DeKALB, Ill. – Playing at home for the first time since February 3, the Northern Illinois University women's tennis team handed the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Warhawks their first loss of the season Friday with a 6-1 win in the Nelson Tennis Center at Chick Evans Field House.
 
NIU won for the fifth time in its last six matches to improve to 8-5 on the season.  The Huskies claimed the doubles point with wins in all three matches, then got straight set victories at the second through fifth singles spots.
 
"We played nine players today, so it was good match to get some people in and to rest a couple people that are a little banged up going into a big week next week," said NIU head coach Eric Burns. "We came out and got the job done. Whitewater is typically a nationally ranked D3 team and they always give us a nice match.  They're scrappy and they make you finish points, so it was perfect for us to work on some things. The doubles weren't quite what we wanted, but we responded really well in the singles and came out with a little more energy and a little bit more conviction."
 
Two Huskies – senior Diana Lukyanova (Moscow, Russia) and junior Angelica Ross (Painesville, Ohio/Painesville Riverside HS) – did not give up a game to their opponents as they recorded 6-0, 6-0 wins at No. 3 and 5 singles, respectively. Erika Dimitriev (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) and Reagan Welch (Greenbrier, Tenn./Aaron Academy) both won by 6-2, 6-0 scores.
 
Freshman Sydney Paradise (Tampa, Fla./Plant HS), playing in the line-up for just the second time, scored a 6-2, 6-3 win at No. 6 singles.
 
It was really positive to see [Angelica and Sydney] come out and do some good things," Burns said.
"They both rolled too, Angelica had an easy time of it out there and Sydney played very well."
 
NIU plays its next three matches – and its final non-conference matches of the season – at home next weekend beginning Friday, March 8 at 11 a.m. versus Lewis University. The Huskies take on Eastern Illinois (9 a.m.) and St. Thomas (3 p.m.) in the Nelson Tennis Center on Saturday, March 9.
 
NIU Huskies 6, UW-Whitewater 1
March 1, 2024 at DeKalb, Illinois
(Nelson Tennis Center)
 
Singles
1. Cassie Lee (UWW) def. Anastasia Rakita (NIU-W) 7-5, 4-3, retired
2. Erika Dimitriev (NIU-W) def. Gracie Ha (UWW) 6-2, 6-0
3. Diana Lukyanova (NIU-W) def. Kellie Ha (UWW) 6-0, 6-0
4. Reagan Welch (NIU-W) def. Molly Asfeld (UWW) 6-2, 6-0
5. Angelica Ross (NIU-W) def. Alex Repplier (UWW) 6-0, 6-0
6. Sydney Paradise (NIU-W) def. Sarah Ferguson (UWW) 6-2, 6-3
 
Doubles
1. Diana Lukyanova/Isabella Righi (NIU-W) def. Cassie Lee/Gracie Ha (UWW) 6-4
2. Erika Dimitriev/Angelica Ross (NIU-W) def. Kellie Ha/Molly Asfeld (UWW) 6-3
3. Reagan Welch/Jenna Horne (NIU-W) def. MacKenzie Lindow/Alex Repplier (UWW) 6-0
 
Match Notes:
UW-Whitewater 6-1
NIU Huskies 8-5
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (3,4,2,1,5,6)
 
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