DeKALB, Ill. – A school record three Northern Illinois University women's tennis players were named to the 2025 All Mid-American Conference team Wednesday, continuing a historic and record-setting season for the Huskies.
 
NIU senior Maria Dzemeshkevich (Moscow, Russia) became the Huskies' first first-team All-MAC selection since 2017, while junior Nataly Ninova (Palma de Mallorca, Spain) and freshman Lucia Yecora (Seville, Spain) earned second team recognition. The team is selected by league head coaches.  
 
"It's great to have three players selected All-MAC, and it's fitting because it has been a historic season with 21 wins and the MAC West Championship," said NIU head coach Eric Burns. "We had some unbelievable performances and all three really deserved to get this [honor] so we're thrilled to have them recognized."
 
Dzemeshkevich is the seventh Huskie all-time selected first team All-MAC, and the first since Raven Neely in 2017. A transfer from the University of Houston, Dzemeshkevich played No. 1 singles in 17 of NIU's 23 dual matches and in all 10 conference matches. She posted a 15-8 record this spring and won 21 singles matches.
 
"Masha [Dzemeshkevich] was great all year," Burns said. "We originally thought she would play lower [in the line-up] but she had to go in at No. 1, where she had experience [at Houston]. She was a great fit for us this year and held down that spot nicely.  She had a great season and did a remarkable job for us."
 
Playing primarily at the No. 3 and 4 singles positions this spring, Ninova broke the NIU single season record for wins. She enters the MAC semifinals on Thursday with a 30-8 overall singles record, and won a team-leading 21 of 25 matches this spring. Ninova also teamed with Dzemeshkevich at No. 1 doubles.  
 
"Nataly is someone we know we can count on in the middle of the line-up every time out," Burns said. "Thirty wins is a heck of a season – that's a really nice year for her. She was consistent for us this year and that's huge for us to know going into every match we're going to be tough to beat. She gives us that."
 
Yecora put together one of the top seasons by a Huskie freshman in years as she won 18 of her 20 dual matches while playing No. 3 and 4 singles for NIU. Twice selected as the MAC Player of the Week, she was 9-1 versus MAC opponents and paired with Isabella Righi at No. 2 doubles.
 
"Lu really had a great season," Burns said. "For a freshman to be 18-2, that's an outstanding season for anyone let alone a freshman coming in, learning the college game and getting their feet wet. She hit the ground running from the start. I'm really proud of her effort, she's been a huge key for our success."
 
The All-MAC trio lead NIU into the 2025 MAC Championships on Thursday where the No. 2 seeded Huskies will take on No. 3 Toledo in the semifinals beginning at approximately 1 p.m. (CT). The live scoring link will be posted on the MAC Championship page here.
 
The complete 2025 All-MAC Women's Tennis Team:
 
All-MAC First Team
Catherine Denysiewicz-Slowek, Miami
Daniella Shved, Eastern Michigan
Esmee Andresen, Buffalo
Jacklynka Scholten, Toledo
Maria Dzemeshkevich, NIU
Sara Zalukar, Miami
 
All-MAC Second Team
Elena Malykh, Ball State
Lucia Yecora, NIU
Prerna Vichare, Eastern Michigan
Audrey Moutama, Toledo
Gaby Rondon, Toledo
Chloe Brown, Ball State
Nataly Ninova, NIU
 
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