Jan. 29, 2012

DES MOINES, Iowa - The Northern Illinois women's tennis team completed its first weekend of the spring season with a close-fought win over Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The Huskies split the match 3-3 in singles play and relied on a 3-0 record from its doubles teams to decide the winner.

The Huskies (2-1) grabbed all three singles victories by way of shut-out. Leading NIU at the No. 1 spot, senior Sara McLaughlin (Moline, Ill./Moline) posted scores of 6-1 and 6-3 to take down the Cougars' (3-2) Kali Donner.

NIU relied on a strong showing from two of its freshmen in the No. 2 and 4 singles spots, Nelle Youel (Crystal Lake, Ill./Crystal Lake Central) and Mary Malkin (Tel Aviv, Israel/Alliance) to pull in the other two victories for the Huskies. Youel brought down SIUE's Rachel Webb by outscoring her 6-2, 6-1 in the highest starting spot for the freshman this year. Malkin made quick work of the Cougars' Lindsey Raymond while defeating her 6-1, 6-1.

The brightest spot for Huskies came from the doubles play as all three teams gained victories to wrap up the match. The No. 1 and 3 teams of McLaughlin/Rogers and De La Torre/Malkin shut-out their opponents Raymond/Donner and Webb/Corkern, respectively, 8-0. The No. 2 team of Youel/Dekkinga continued its success from the fall with an 8-5 win over SIUE's Ilcewicz/Horning.

"Doubles looked great today," said NIU Head Coach Ryun Ferrell. "It's the best they've looked all weekend. We're a young team and looked like it a little. At times we looked a little flustered but we pulled off a good win. Southern Illinois-Edwardsville is a good program that has been improving. Overall, I really like the direction our program is heading. Coming out and taking care of business was exciting and nice to see."

The Huskies will continue spring play on Friday, Feb. 3, at 6:00 p.m. CT in Waterloo, Iowa. NIU will meet Northern Iowa on Friday and North Dakota on Saturday.

NORTHERN ILLINOIS (2-1) DEF. SIUE (3-2), 4-3
JANUARY 29, 2012 | ROGER KNAPP TENNIS CENTER

SINGLES
No. 1 Sara McLaughlin (NIU) def. Kali Donner (SIUE), 6-1, 6-3
No. 2 Nelle Youel (NIU) def. Rachel Webb (SIUE), 6-2, 6-1
No. 3 Haley Ilcewicz (SIUE) def. Haley Dekkinga (NIU), 4-6, 7-6, 10-8
No. 4 Mary Malkin (NIU) def. Lindsey Raymond (SIUE), 6-1, 6-1
No. 5 Laura Horning (SIUE) def. Arantza De La Torre (NIU), 7-6, 2-6, 10-8
No. 6 Joanna Corkern (SIUE) def. Ilse Pacheco (NIU), 6-3, 6-4

DOUBLES
No. 1 McLaughlin/Rogers (NIU) def. Raymond/Donner (SIUE), 8-0
No. 2 Youel/Dekkinga (NIU) def. Ilcewicz/Horning (SIUE), 8-5
No. 3 De La Torre/Malkin (NIU) def. Webb/Corkern (SIUE), 8-0