Box Score 1 DeKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University women's tennis team won road matches at Chicago State and Valparaiso Sunday to wrap up its final non-conference weekend of the season. The Huskies defeated the Cougars, 7-0, at the Park Forest Health and Fitness Club in the morning, then recorded a 4-3 victory over the Beacons at the Courts of Northwest Indiana Sunday evening.
 
"This was a great day of matches and two strong wins," said NIU head coach Eric Burns. "Chicago State and Valpo are quality teams so to get through the day 2-0 at two different sites was a really good effort for the team."
 
NIU improved its dual match record to 11-5 with the wins. The Huskies will take next weekend off of competition before opening Mid-American Conference dual competition on Sunday, March 20 when they host Bowling Green.
 
"This weekend was a positive way to transition into conference play," Burns said. "I hope today gives us a lot of confidence. Now we get a well-deserved break where we can get a little rest with a weekend off to recharge and get focused in on MAC play."
 
The Huskies opened the day winning the doubles point and all six singles matches versus Chicago State. At No. 2 singles, Diana Lukyanova won a tough match over Kristina Pukhaeva, winning 10-4 in the super tiebreaker after splitting the first two sets. Sophomore Anastasia Rakita clinched both the doubles point – teaming with Erika Dimitriev for a 6-2 win at No. 1 – and defeating Katarina Drazic at No. 3 singles to give the Huskies their fourth point and the win.
 
At Valpo, NIU dropped the doubles point but was able to claim four singles victories to earn the win. Freshman Reagan Welch put the Huskies on the board with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Amanda Tabanera at No. 3 singles. The Beacons took a 2-1 lead with a win at No. 5 singles before Dimitriev tied the match at 2-2, defeating Olivia Czerwonka, 6-1, 7-5 at No. 1 singles.
 
At No. 4 singles, Angelica Ross defeated Demi Jhaveri (6-2, 6-4) to give NIU the lead and senior Christy Robinson clinched the win for the Huskies with a 6-4, 6-1 win at No. 6 singles.
 
NIU 7, Chicago State 0
March 6, 2022 at Park Forest, Ill.
Park Forest Health and Fitness Club
 
Singles
1. Erika Dimitriev (NIU) def. Cali Fuller (CSUW) 6-4, 6-3
2. Diana Lukyanova (NIU) def. Kristina Pukhaeva (CSUW) 7-6, 2-6, 10-4
3. Anastasia Rakita (NIU) def. Katarina Drazic (CSUW) 6-3, 6-3
4. Reagan Welch (NIU) def. Diana Borodina (CSUW) 6-1, 6-2
5. Angelica Ross (NIU) def. Lizi Morgoshia (CSUW) 7-6, 6-2
6. Christy Robinson (NIU) def. Katarina Dukic (CSUW) 6-1, 6-1
 
Doubles
1. Anastasia Rakita/Erika Dimitriev (NIU) def. Lizi Morgoshia/Katarina Drazic (CSUW) 6-2
2. Katarina Dukic/Kristina Pukhaeva (CSUW) def. Reagan Welch/Diana Lukyanova (NIU) 6-4
3. Fernanda Naves/Christy Robinson (NIU) def. Cali Fuller/Sofiya Sedovich (CSUW) 6-1
 
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (6,4,3,5,1,2)
 
NIU 4, Valparaiso 3
March 6, 2022 at Valparaiso, Ind.
The Courts of NWI
 
Singles
1. Erika Dimitriev (NIU) def. Olivia Czerwonka (VALPO) 6-1, 7-5
2. Claire Czerwonka (VALPO) def. Diana Lukyanova (NIU) 6-3, 2-6, 7-5
3. Reagan Welch (NIU) def. Amanda Tabanera (VALPO) 6-2, 6-2
4. Angelica Ross (NIU) def. Demi Jhaveri (VALPO) 6-2, 6-4
5. Mia Bertino (VALPO) def. Fernanda Naves (NIU) 6-2, 6-3
6. Christy Robinson (NIU) def. Isabella Schoolcraft (VALPO) 6-4, 6-1
 
Doubles
1. Claire Czerwonka/Olivia Czerwonka (VALPO) def. Anastasia Rakita/Erika Dimitriev (NIU) 6-1
2. Diana Lukyanova/Reagan Welch (NIU) def. Isabella Schoolcraft/Amanda Tabanera (VALPO) 6-2
3. Demi Jhaveri/Allison McConnell (VALPO) def. Fernanda Naves/Christy Robinson (NIU) 7-6 (7-1)
 
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (3,5,1,4,6,2)
 
-- NIU --