Women's Tennis | February 2

DeKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University women's tennis team earned its first win of the 2024 dual match season with a 6-1 victory over Marquette Friday at the Nelson Tennis Center at Chick Evans Fieldhouse.
 
With several players moving up in the line-up, NIU got wins at No. 2, 3 and 4 singles to clinch the win after taking the doubles point. Erika Dimitriev won a third-set tiebreaker to post a win at No. 1 singles and freshman Sydney Paradise earned a three-set win with a 10-point in her Huskie debut in the No. 6 singles spot.
 
"We got off to a really good start in the doubles and I think that built a lot of confidence for us," said NIU head coach Eric Burns. "It carried over to the singles and in those first four singles matches we put a lot of pressure on them from the beginning. The ladies at two through four took care of business quickly and Erika pulled through in three sets at No. 1."
 
Diana Lukyanova, Reagan Welch and Isabella Righi swept their matches at two, three and four singles, respectively. NIU players did not lose more than three games in any of those six sets. Marquette's only win came at No. 5 singles via a retirement.
 
In doubles, NIU got wins at No. 1 from the team of Lukyanova and Righi, who won 6-2, and at No. 3  where Welch and Horne won 6-3.
 
"We fought really hard and earned it today," Burns said.  "It was one of the better matches we've had in a while and it was a really good team effort by everyone. There was some good tennis, there were some tight matches and we played the big points well."
 
NIU returns to the Nelson Tennis Center Saturday morning to take on Bellarmine beginning at 11 a.m.
 
NIU 6, Marquette 1
Feb. 2, 2024
DeKalb, Illinois (Nelson Tennis Center)
 
Singles competition
1. Erika Dimitriev (NIU-W) def. Emilija Kojcic (MU-W) 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (7-4)
2. Diana Lukyanova (NIU-W) def. Emma Davis (MU-W) 6-3, 6-2
3. Reagan Welch (NIU-W) def. Sarah Badawi (MU-W) 6-3, 6-2
4. Isabella Righi (NIU-W) def. Tiana Windbuchler (MU-W) 6-3, 6-3
5. Andie Wiese (MU-W) def. Jenna Horne (NIU-W) 5-4, retired
6. Sydney Paradise (NIU-W) def. Lara Kaiser (MU-W) 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 1-0 (10-8)
 
Doubles competition
1. Diana Lukyanova/Isabella Righi (NIU-W) def. Andie Wiese/Lara Kaiser (MU-W) 6-2
2. Erika Dimitriev/Angelica Ross (NIU-W) vs. Tiana Windbuchler/Emilija Kojcic (MU-W) 4-4, unfinished
3. Reagan Welch/Jenna Horne (NIU-W) def. Emma Davis/Tiera Jarmond (MU-W) 6-3
 
Match Notes:
Marquette 0-5
NIU Huskies 1-2
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (3,4,2,5,1,6)
 
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