Women's Tennis | January 8

DeKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University women's tennis team begins its spring season for the second consecutive year at the Northwestern Invitational this weekend, competing against Northwestern and DePaul.

The Huskies were selected fourth and earned one first-place vote in the Mid-American Conference preseason coaches' poll the league announced Thursday, Jan. 8.

Competitive early season matches will be another trend this season for NIU, a tactic head coach Eric Burns felt gave his team an advantage in 2025.

"It was huge for our confidence, and it really set the tone for the rest of the season because we competed so well and we were so close in a lot of matches," Burns said. "So they know if they're competing at that level, they can compete with anyone on our schedule."

The invitational this weekend will not produce team scores, only individual results with matches set to begin on Friday, Jan. 9 and run through Sunday, Jan. 11 in Evanston, Ill. at the Combe Tennis Center.

The Huskies home opener will take place next Friday, Jan. 16 at 2 p.m. when Wisconsin comes to the Nelson Tennis Center at Chick Evans Field House. The following day, NIU hosts Missouri at 9 a.m. and Chicago State at 6 p.m.

Looking at 2026
In 2025, the Huskies set a school record 22 dual match wins, won the Mid-American Conference West Division for the first time and appeared in its first-ever national postseason tournament as an NCAA member in the UTR Sports NIT Championship.

While NIU accomplished plenty in 2025 on a team and individual level, Burns has the team focused on the upcoming slate.

"Each year is a new season and you've got to view it that way," Burns said. "Obviously, we know the bar went up. Expectations are a little bit higher … We have some nice freshmen in here and have a lot of great experience on the team. We're going to have to play and come into our own."

The Huskies closed out the fall season strong with three players qualifying for the singles main draw of the ITA Midwest Regionals, the most by NIU in over 15 years. In the doubles draw, senior Jenna Horne and sophomore Lucia Yecora reached the round of 16 following an upset of No. 9 seeded Illinois.

Eleven days later in the NIU Huskie Indoor Invitational, NIU went 10-2 in doubles through the weekend while freshman Rebeca Garcia Miralles and sophomore Theodora Kousiou each won their singles flight. Another newcomer in freshman Malika Kabdesh also reached the championship round of flight one.

Burns felt the team was able to shake off the rust by the end of the fall, which led to better results on the court. Additionally, the adjustment from the freshmen, who secured big-time wins.

"The freshmen had some time to adjust to the pace and level of play and learn how to work," Burns said. "It's a nice introduction for them more than anything but they rallied, they did well. We were down players in the fall, which really affected how we did doubles, and they still rallied and did well despite inexperience."

As the Huskies gear up for the upcoming season, a battle tested senior class will lead the way this season.

"Our seniors in general are all competitive and who this team looks to get things going," Burns said. "Jenna Horne has been in so many 4-3, 3-3 sets with the match on the line so she's used to those situations. Nataly Ninova is good in pressure situations. (Isabella Righi) is a competitor, she brings a lot of fire to team. They're the people we'll count on the most this year."