Women's Tennis | January 21

DeKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University women's tennis team started strong in Sunday's match versus James Madison at the Nelson Tennis Center by winning the doubles point, then pushed four of the six singles matches to three sets before falling to the Dukes, 5-2.
 
"I think all in all [today was] a pretty good day of tennis for us and should help us with our confidence going forward," said NIU head coach Eric Burns. "I thought we fought really hard. It was an improvement from yesterday. We had four three-setters and won the doubles point. We were more aggressive in the doubles and were more consistent in singles. I felt we were trying to dictate play and be aggressive. Today we made some strides."
 
NIU's No. 1 duo of Erika Dimitriev and Nataly Ninova dominated James Madison's No. 26-ranked team of Cate Broerman and Hope Moulin, 6-0, to notch the Huskies first doubles win. At No. 3, the Huskies' Jenna Horne and Reagan Welch clinched the doubles point with a 7-5 win over Reka Matko and Alexandra Prudente, 7-5.
 
"We were dominant at No. 1 doubles against the No. 26 ranked team," Burns said. "We dictated play in that match, they never got any momentum. Then in singles, we took a good team with good players to three sets. We were underdogs and we pushed them to the limit and gave ourselves chances to win."
 
Dimitriev, playing at No. 1 singles, took the first set in a tiebreaker, before falling in three sets, 6-7, 6-2, 6-3, while at No. 2 singles, Diana Lukyanova lost the first set, then forced a third set by winning set two, 6-3. JMU's Daria Munteanu responded to claim the third set and clinch the Dukes' fourth point to win the match.
 
Horne, a sophomore, closed out the day's action by recording NIU's second point with a three-set win. She prevailed 10-6 in the super tiebreaker after winning the second set, 6-4.
 
"Jenna coming through with a three-setter at the end was good to see," Burns said. "Jenna has really improved, she's gotten stronger, she's going for her shots a lot more. She's starting to develop some power and stepping in and we're really happy with where her game is going."
 
NIU takes next week off from competition before returning to the Nelson Tennis Center on Friday, February 2 at 3 p.m. versus Marquette.
 
James Madison 5, NIU 2
Jan. 21, 2024
DeKalb, Illinois (Nelson Tennis Center)
 
1.           Cate Broerman (JMU) def. Erika Dimitriev (NIU-W) 6-7 (1-7), 6-2, 6-3
2.           Daria Munteanu (JMU) def. Diana Lukyanova (NIU-W) 6-1, 3-6, 6-2
3.           Ines Oliveira (JMU) def. Nataly Ninova (NIU-W) 6-3, 6-4
4.           Hope Moulin (JMU) def. Isabella Righi (NIU-W) 1-6, 6-3, 6-2
5.           Reka Matko (JMU) def. Reagan Welch (NIU-W) 6-4, 6-0
6.           Jenna Horne (NIU-W) def. Alexandra Prudente (JMU) 2-6, 6-4, 1-0 (10-6)
 
1.           Erika Dimitriev/Nataly Ninova (NIU-W) def. #26 Cate Broerman/Hope Moulin (JMU) 6-0
2.           Ines Oliveira/Daria Munteanu (JMU) def. Diana Lukyanova/Isabella Righi (NIU-W) 6-2
3.           Jenna Horne/Reagan Welch (NIU-W) def. Reka Matko/Alexandra Prudente (JMU) 7-5
 
Match Notes:
James Madison 1-1
NIU Huskies 0-2
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (3,4,2,1,5,6)
 
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