Women's Tennis | January 18

O'FALLON, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University women's tennis team opened its 2025 dual match season with a pair of victories Friday at St. Clair Tennis in O'Fallon, Illinois. The Huskies started the day with a 7-0 win over Lindenwood before defeating Saint Louis, 4-0, Friday evening.
 
The Huskies won all three doubles matches and swept through singles play without dropping a set in the shut out win over Lindenwood. Senior transfer Maria Dzemeshkevich dropped just four games at No. 1 singles in defeating Fabiana Labrador of Lindenwood 6-1, 6-3. 
 
In the evening match versus Saint Louis, NIU clinched the doubles points with wins at No. 2 and No. 3 with the duo of Reagan Welch and Jenna Horne earning a 6-0 victory at No. 3 doubles. Isabella Righi and Lucia Yecora clinched the point with a 6-2 win at No. 2.
 
Welch and Horne also posted singles wins at the No. 5 and No. 6 spots, respectively. Welch earned a 6-4, 6-0 win over Angelina Joao; Horne defeated SLU's Aryn Walker 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 to score the Huskies' fourth point and clinch the match. Junior Nataly Ninova also picked up her second singles win of the day with a 6-2, 6-1 win at No. 2.
 
NIU (2-0) next travels to Columbia, Missouri for a Sunday (Jan. 19) match against the Missouri Tigers at the Green Tennis Center.  Follow live stats here.
 
NIU 7, Lindenwood 0
St. Clair Tennis, O'Fallon, Illinois
 
Singles

1. Maria Dzemeshkevich (NIU) def. Fabiana Labrador (LU) 6-1, 6-3
2. Nataly Ninova (NIU) def. Michelle Trochez (LU) 7-5, 6-2
3. Irmak Budak (NIU) def. Paola Garcia (LU) 7-5, 6-4
4. Lucia Yecora (NIU) def. Yana Gaskell (LU) 6-1, 7-5
5. Reagan Welch (NIU) def. Daniela Rosenberger (LU) 6-3, 6-3
6. Jenna Horne (NIU) def. Sarah Ben Aba (LU) 6-4, 6-3

Doubles

1. Ninova/Dzemeshkevich (NIU) def. Ben Aba/Garcia 6-2
2. Righi/Yecora (NIU) def. Trochez/Rosenberger 6-3
3. Welch/Horne (NIU) dev. Gaskell/Labrador 6-3

 
NIU 4, Saint Louis 0
St. Clair Tennis, O'Fallon, Illinois
 
Singles

1. Maria Dzemeshkevich (NIU) vs. Fiorella Duran (SLU) 5-7, 6-1, unfinished
2. Nataly Ninova (NIU) def. Nicolly Ferreira (SLU) 6-2, 6-1
3. Irmak Budak (NIU) vs. Emmerson White (SLU) 6-1, 3-6, 3-3 unfinished
4. Lucia Yecora (NIU) def. Lizzie Barlow (SLU) 2-6, 6-2 unfinished
5. Reagan Welch (NIU) def. Angelina Joao (SLU) 6-4, 6-0
6. Jenna Horne (NIU) def. Aryn Walker (SLU) 1-6, 6-3, 6-2

Doubles

1. Ninova/Dzemeshkevich (NIU) vs. Duran/White 5-3 unfinished
2. Righi/Yecora (NIU) def. Ferreira/Joao 6-2
3. Welch/Horne (NIU) dev. Barlow/Walker 6-0

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