March 21, 2008

DEKALB, Ill.-The Northern Illinois University women's tennis team suffered its first conference loss of the season, falling to Buffalo, 7-0, Friday afternoon.

"We looked really tough today. The attitude was awesome. It was better than against Embry-Riddle," NIU head coach Ryun Ferrell. "The team learned a lot. It was exciting to see. We just need to play more and learn a little bit more and we'll be a really formidable team."

The Huskies' (2-7, 0-1) Kathryn Friedlund (Parkville, Mo. Park Hill South), Brooke Forsberg (Moline, Ill./Moline) and Jenny Edner (Stocksund, Sweden/Kramfors Tennis Gymnasiet) each turned in strong performances. After getting shutout in the first set in No. 3 singles, Friedlund bounced back in the second, just losing to Diana Popescu, 7-6.

In No. 4 singles, Forsberg pushed her opponent Samantha Stan, losing 6-3, 6-4. Likewise for Edner, who was edged out 7-6 in the first set and losing the second, 6-3.

The Huskies doubles teams of Forsberg and Nao Umemura (Kasugai-shi Aichi, Japan/Kardina International) and Friedlund and Lilian Asuaje (Monterrey, Mexico/American School Foundation of Monterrey) both lost 9-8 in No. 1 and No. 2 doubles respectively.

The Huskies will be back on the courts tomorrow, when NIU faces Akron at the Clock Tower Racquet Club in Rockford, Ill. Matches begin at 1 p.m.

Buffalo 7, Northern Illinois 0

Singles

1. Andreea Novaceanu (UB) def. Nao Umemura (NIU) 6-3, 6-1

2. Denise Harijanto (UB) def. Lilian Asuaje (NIU), 6-2, 6-1

3. Diana Popescu (UB) def. Kathryn Friedlund (NIU) 6-0, 7-6

5. Diana Toia (UB) def. Jenny Edner (NIU) 7-6, 6-3

6. Tina Jacob (UB) def. Dora Delgadillo (NIU) 6-0, 6-3

Doubles

1. Popescu/Harijanto (UB) def. Umemura/Forsberg (NIU) 9-8

2. Stan/Toia (UB) def. Friedlund/Asuaje (NIU) 9-8

3. Novaceanu/Jacob (UB) def. Delgadillo/Edner (NIU) 8-2