Feb. 10, 2013

O'FALLON, Ill. - The Northern Illinois women's tennis team started a five-game road swing with a hard-fought 4-3 victory over Saint Louis University Saturday at the St. Clair Tennis Club in O'Fallon, Ill.

NIU's Haley Dekkinga, playing at No. 2 singles, defeated SLU's Mia Elmore 6-3, 5-7, 6-1 in the last match of the day to give the Huskies the win. Northern Illinois also got two-set singles victories from No. 1 player Nelle Youel, who kept her undefeated record intact with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Stephanie Hollis, and Mary Malkin, who defeated SLU's Madison Cook (6-4, 6-4) at No. 4 singles.

Northern Illinois started the match by winning the doubles point as Youel and Arantza De La Torre claimed an 8-3 win at No. 1 to remain undefeated in dual match play, and Dekkinga and Stephanie McDonald defeated Natalia Yacaman and Maria Toro Moreno of Saint Louis, 8-5, at No. 3.

"This was a complete team effort," said NIU Head Coach Ryun Ferrell. "We played some great doubles, then we really had to get tough in singles. SLU is a great team and they really know how to compete. It was an outstanding match. No rest for the weary, we have to be ready for SIUE [Sunday]."

Northern Illinois improved to 4-1 on the season while dropping SLU to 3-3. The Huskies face SIU Edwardsville Sunday at 2 p.m. in Edwardsville, Ill.

Northern Illinois 4, Saint Louis 3
St. Clair Tennis Center - O'Fallon, Illinois
Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013

Doubles
No. 1 Nelle Youel/Arantza De La Torre (NIU) def. Mia Elmore/Brooke Urzendowski (SLU), 8-3
No. 2 Stephanie Hollis/Madison Cook (SLU) def. Mary Malkin/Cristina Alvarez (NIU), 8-6
No. 3 Haley Dekkinga/Stephanie McDonald (NIU) def. Natalia Yacaman/Maria Toro Moreno (SLU), 8-5

Singles
No. 1 Nelle Youel (NIU) def. Stephanie Hollis (SLU) - 6-3, 6-2
No. 2 Haley Dekkinga (NIU) def. Mia Elmore (SLU) - 6-3, 5-7, 6-1
No. 3 Brooke Urzendowski (SLU) def. Arantza De La Torre (NIU) - 6-4, 6-2
No. 4 Mary Malkin (NIU) def. Madison Cook (SLU) - 6-4, 6-4
No. 5 Maria Toro Moreno (SLU) def. Cristina Alvarez (NIU) - 6-3, 5-7, 6-3
No. 6 Natalia Yacaman (SLU) def. Stephanie McDonald (NIU) - 2-6, 6-3, 6-0

-- NIU --

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