DeKALB, Ill. –  The Northern Illinois University women's tennis team improved its record to 2-1 on the young dual match season with a 7-0 victory over Western Illinois Friday at Chick Evans Field House.
 
The Huskies won all three doubles matches to take a 1-0 lead in the match, with the No. 2 pair of sophomore Diana Lukyanova and freshman Reagan Welch blanking their Western Illinois opponents, 6-0. 
 
Similar results followed in singles with the Huskies sweeping all six matches in two sets. Playing at No. 2 singles, Lukyanova gave up just one game to her opponent, Aina Cortina-Pou of WIU, winning 6-0, 6-1. In fact, NIU players lost two or less games in 11 of 12 sets played in singles. At No. 3 singles, Welch scored a 6-1, 6-1 win over Agatha Carbonell and senior Paula Veyhle, who made her 2021-22 debut after missing the fall campaign due to injury, scored a 6-2, 6-0 win at No. 6 singles.
 
"The girls played really well today," said NIU head coach Eric Burns. "About midway through the doubles, we picked it up, and the singles was a very good performance across the board. We had a couple people move up in the line-up in Erika and Reagan, they played a spot higher and played really well.  Angelica at No. 5 is on a roll, we're seeing some really good play from her. At No. 6, Paula is coming off an injury so it was good to get her in the line-up today and get her some work, we're really happy to see her back on the court." 

NIU returns to action at Chick Evans Field House on Saturday, February 5 at 1 p.m. when they take on the University of St. Thomas.     
 
NIU Women's Tennis Match Results
Feb 04, 2022 at DeKalb, Illinois
(Chick Evans Field House)
 
NIU 7, Western Illinois 0
 
Singles
1. Erika Dimitriev (NIU) def. Ashley Jacobson (WIU) 6-1, 6-2
2. Diana Lukyanova (NIU) def. Aina Cortina-Pou (WIU) 6-0, 6-1
3. Reagan Welch (NIU) def. Agatha Carbonell (WIU) 6-1, 6-1
4. Anastasia Rakita (NIU) def. Paige Grice (WIU) 6-1, 6-3
5. Angelica Ross (NIU) def. Lucky Kancherla (WIU) 6-2, 6-1
6. Paula Veyhle (NIU) def. Maria Rybka (WIU) 6-2, 6-0
 
Doubles
1. Erika Dimitriev/Anastasia Rakita (NIU) def. Lucky Kancherla/Aina Cortina-Pou (WIU) 6-2
2. Diana Lukyanova/Reagan Welch (NIU) def. Ashley Jacobson/Paige Grice (WIU) 6-0
3. Iuliia Dmitrieva/Fernanda Naves (NIU) def. Agatha Carbonell/Maria Rybka (WIU) 6-2
 
-- NIU --