Women's Tennis | October 8

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University women's tennis team completed the first day of the ITA Midwest Regionals at University of Illinois on Thursday. Teams will compete at the Atkins Tennis Center from Thursday, Oct. 8 - Monday, Oct. 12. 

For the second consecutive year, the Huskies will be sending three representatives to the singles main draw after two advanced from the qualifying draw. NIU is the only non-Power Four conference team to advance through the singles qualifying draw, advancing with representatives from Illinois, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Northwestern, Ohio State and Wisconsin.

Day One
Thursday saw Rebeca Garcia Miralles (Castellón, Spain / IES Sos Baynat) and Lucia Yecora (Seville, Spain / IES V Centenario School) each qualify for the singles main draw, combining for three wins over Pour Four Conference opponents in Michigan State, Notre Dame and Wisconsin as well as former conference rival Western Michigan.

Garcia Miralles reached the Round of 64 of the singles main draw with a pair of 6-4, 6-1 wins, beginning with defeating Nina Plihal of Michigan State and followed by a win over Gabriela Skrabalova of Wisconsin.

Yecora punched her ticket with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Notre Dame's Esther Vyrlan and a three-set victory of Western Michigan's Ayana Yaguchi, storming back to win 2-6, 6-3, 6-1.  

Sophia Shlyakhta (Vernon Hills, Ill. / Stevenson) recorded two singles wins on Thursday while Paulina Masherava (Vernon Hills, Ill. / Vernon Hills) added a 6-1, 6-2 win over Compassion Tsai of Bradley.