Young Yet Experienced Huskies Start Spring in Kentucky

DeKALB, Illinois – The Northern Illinois University women’s tennis team opens its 2023 dual match season beginning Friday in Kentucky where head coach Eric Burns’ senior-less team will look to build on last year’s 17-11 dual match record, and more importantly, its successful start to the spring semester during last weekend’s NIU Huskie Winter Invitational.

While the larger goals of qualifying for and winning the Mid-American Conference exist, Burns said he and the team are focused on short-term goals that will lead to accomplishing those larger goals.  

“What we have focused on is short term goals,” Burns said. “We have goals for the weekend that will eventually help us get to the bigger goals. You have to look at each match as important, whether it is conference, non-conference, a power five opponent or a NAIA match. Those are all matches we want to win.”

Burns believes one key to the team’s success played out last weekend at the Nelson Tennis Center when the Huskies knocked the competitive rust off in a tournament format by playing opponents from Iowa, DePaul, Marshall and Montana State.

“We want to carry over what we saw during the first tournament,” Burns said. “We set several goals and we hit most of them. The one thing we did very well is we played loose in most situations. We also saw some good aggressive doubles play. We want to keep that going in these matches this weekend and hopefully get some positive results even if that’s not necessarily a win.”

NIU will play a pair of matches on Friday in Louisville, taking on the home-standing Cardinals at 9 a.m., followed by a match versus Bellarmine.  On Sunday, the Huskies will be in Lexington, Kentucky to face the Wildcats beginning at 1 p.m. 

The 2023 roster consists of three juniors, three sophomores and four freshmen. Five of the six returnees played at least 20 singles matches during the 2022 dual match season with all five recording double digit win totals last spring. 

Erika Dimitriev, Diana Lukyanova and Anastasia Rakita give the Huskies a formidable, experienced trio in the singles line-up while also all contributing in doubles.  Dimitriev played 16 matches at No. 1 singles as a freshman a year ago and was twice a part of the MAC Doubles Team of the Week with Rakita as the two formed the Huskies’ No. 1 doubles pair. Lukyanova tied for second on the team in dual match wins in 2022 and posted a winning record at both the No. 1 (6-4) and No. 2 (8-7) singles spots. She and Reagan Welch won 10 of 16 doubles matches during the spring. Rakita won 20 singles matches in 2021-22 and has 37 singles wins as a Huskie in addition to her doubles work. 

“Coming back as a sophomore, we’re looking for Erika to keep improving her confidence and keep adding to her game,” Burns said. “She’s a lefty, a power player and she can step up and crush the ball. She’ll get out there and fight in the matches. Both she and Diana can be two of the best players in the conference.

“We expect big things from Diana,” Burns continued. “She’s very steady and consistent and plays a big role on this team. Nastia [Rakita] is an aggressive baseliner who is looking to dictate play out there. We’re happy with the fall she had, now we just want her to stay healthy, get stronger and continue to develop her variety of shots.”

Josefina Trella rounds out the Huskie junior class. The Minnesota native has primarily seen action in doubles, including 11 matches during the 2022-23 tournament schedule and in seven matches a year ago. 

“She has really improved her game over the last three years and is in the discussion for a line-up spot in doubles for us,” Burns said.

The freshman class includes two players – Nataly Miroslavova Ninova and Isabella Righi – from Palma de Mallorca, Spain who arrived at NIU with impressive junior résumés and are fighting for spots in the singles line-up. Righi gained valuable experience and played 15 tournament matches during the fall, posting a 9-6 record, while Miroslavova Ninova went 6-5, including three wins at the Huskie Fall Invitational. 

“Nataly had a tough fall with some injuries, but she came back from break in good shape,” Burns said. “She has a nice all-court game and is good in doubles, she just needs experience. Isabella can play at a very high level; we’ve seen that in practice. When she keeps focus and is consistent, she’s very good.”  

Freshmen Jenna Horne and McKenna Chudy round out the Huskies’ 2022-23 roster. Both have improved their games since arriving on campus and even since last semester, with Horne working her way into the doubles line-up.

“Jenna has made unbelievable improvement to her game and has worked her way into the doubles line-up here early in the season,” Burns said. “She’s very athletic, moves well, keeps the ball in play and doesn’t beat herself. She’s very confident at the net right now which gives her opportunities. McKenna just needs more experience and confidence. She fights for every ball and is going to give her best every time she’s out there. She works hard to improve and that’s all you can ask as a coach.” 

The dual match schedule includes 15 home matches beginning Friday, January 27 versus Chicago State and Eastern Illinois.  NIU will also play Wisconsin and Marquette in early road non-conference action with regional contests versus Northern Iowa, Valparaiso, Bradley and Western Illinois set for the Nelson Tennis Center. Mid-American Conference play opens on March 19 with the MAC Tournament set for April 29-30. 

Overall, Burns believes this NIU team has the talent and ability to have an excellent spring campaign with  the physical and mental aspects of the game equally important to success. 

“We have felt good all year about this team,” Burns said. “All of the players have the ability. They need to keep working on and improving their games, bring mental toughness and just believe.” 

-- NIU --