DeKALB, Illinois – The Northern Illinois University women's tennis team opened its home dual match schedule Friday with a pair of wins, defeating Chicago State, 6-1, and Eastern Illinois, 7-0, in the Nelson Tennis Center at Chick Evans Field House.
 
"It was good to get those wins," said head coach Eric Burns. "Chicago State was a tough match, we knew what to expect from them. There were a lot of ups and downs in the match; we fought through it and got a good, solid win. We played really well in the second match.  We came out with more energy, we were more focused and it showed."
 
In the morning match versus Chicago State, NIU pulled out the doubles point with a pair of tiebreaker wins. Erika Dimitriev and Anastasia Rakita claimed the tiebreaker win at No. 1 doubles by a 7-5 score, while freshmen Isabella Righi and Jenna Horne won by a 7-3 margin.
 
The Huskies earned the win with straight set wins by Nataly Miroslavova Ninova, Anastasia Rakita and Reagan Welch at No. 5, 1 and 4 singles, respectively. Erika Dimitriev and Diana Lukyanova claimed three-set victories at the No. 2 and No. 3 spots.
 
"We pulled out two tiebreakers in the doubles in the first match and both were critical for us," Burns said. "If we lose that doubles point, Chicago State has a legitimate chance to win with three of the singles matches going to three sets."
 
After the NIU men's team defeated Chicago State, the women's team took the courts again to face the Panthers. The Huskies won all three doubles, including a 6-0, 6-0 win by Miroslavova Ninova and Welch at No. 2 with Horne and Righi clinching the point.  In singles play, Huskies won five of six matches in straight sets.
 
"Diana [Lukyanova] was really good today," Burns said. "She beat a couple of good opponents.  Nastia [Rakita] had a great match versus Chicago State. That was one of her best wins in a while. We put Jenna Horne in at No. 6 singles and she was outstanding on the singles court."
 
The Huskies improved to 2-3 on the season with the wins. NIU returns to action on Thursday, February 2 when they face Wisconsin and Marquette.
 
NIU 6, Chicago State 1
1/27/2023
DeKalb, Illinois (Nelson Tennis Center at Chick Evans Field House)
 
SINGLES
1.         Anastasia Rakita (NIU) def. Cali Fuller (CHI-ST) 6-0, 6-3
2.         Erika Dimitriev (NIU) def. Kristina Pukhaeva (CHI-ST) 6-1, 3-6, 6-2
3.         Diana Lukyanova (NIU) def. Katarina Dukic (CHI-ST) 6-2, 3-6, 6-2
4.         Reagan Welch (NIU) def. Ethel Li (CHI-ST) 6-4, 6-4
5.         Nataly Miroslavova Ninova (NIU) def. Sofiya Sedovich (CHI-ST) 6-0, 6-1
6.         Manuella Eloundou (CHI-ST) def. Isabella Righi (NIU) 6-3, 2-6, 1-0 (10-8)
 
DOUBLES
1.         Erika Dimitriev/Anastasia Rakita (NIU) def. Ethel Li/Kristina Pukhaeva (CHI-ST) 7-6 (7-5)
2.         Cali Fuller/Sofiya Sedovich (CHI-ST) def. Nataly Miroslavova Ninova/Reagan Welch (NIU) 6-0
3.         Isabella Righi/Jenna Horne (NIU) def. Katarina Dukic/Manuella Eloundou (CHI-ST) 7-6 (7-3)
 
 
NIU 7, Eastern Illinois 0
1/27/2023
DeKalb, Illinois (Nelson Tennis Center at Chick Evans Field House)
 
SINGLES
1.         Erika Dimitriev (NIU) def. Christine Gouws (EIU-W) 5-7, 6-1, 10-3
2.         Diana Lukyanova (NIU) def. E. Bukraba-Ulanova (EIU-W) 6-4, 6-3
3.         Reagan Welch (NIU) def. Jemma Booth (EIU-W) 6-1, 6-0
4.         Nataly Miroslavova Ninova (NIU) def. Madeline Monroy (EIU-W) 6-4, 6-1
5.         Isabella Righi (NIU) def. Brittany Steven (EIU-W) 6-2, 6-1
6.         Jenna Horne (NIU) def. Lauren Ellis (EIU-W) 6-3, 6-1
 
DOUBLES
1.         Erika Dimitriev/Anastasia Rakita (NIU) def. E. Bukraba-Ulanova/Christine Gouws (EIU-W) 6-3
2.         Nataly Miroslavova Ninova/Reagan Welch (NIU) def. Brittany Steven/Madeline Monroy (EIU-W) 6-0
3.         Jenna Horne/Isabella Righi (NIU) def. Jemma Booth/Lauren Ellis (EIU-W) 6-2
 
 
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