March 31, 2012

MACOMB, Ill. - The Northern Illinois women's tennis team won its second straight match on Saturday over Western Illinois. The 7-0 victory was the Huskies’ ninth of the year as the team moved to 9-7 on the season.

The Huskie youngsters were again on top of their game as freshmen Nelle Youel (Crystal Lake, Ill./Crystal Lake Central), Mary Malkin (Tel Aviv, Israel/Alliance), Stephanie McDonald (Harare, Zimbabwe/St. Anne's Diocesan College), and Arantza De La Torre (San Luis Potosi, Mexico/Motolinia) each earned victories with strong and consistent play. Youel grabbed her 11th win of the season and sophomore Haley Dekkinga (Allegan, Mich./Allegan) and Malkin each moved to 9-6 on the year. Senior Sara McLaughlin (Moline, Ill./Moline) moved to .500 on the season in the No. 1 position.

NIU saw a strong performance from its doubles teams as each gained victories on the day. McLaughlin and Emily Rogers (Rochester, Minn./Century) teamed up for their seventh win of the season. Youel and De La Torre were paired together for their seventh victory on the year. McDonald and Dekkinga continued their fantastic teamwork, earning their ninth W.

The Huskies go back to MAC play next weekend as they host the Toledo Rockets on Friday, April 6 at 1:00 p.m. CT on the West Tennis Courts in DeKalb. They follow up the match with a meeting against Eastern Michigan, also at home.

-NIU-

NORTHERN ILLINOIS 9-7 (1-2, MAC) DEF. WESTERN ILLINOIS 0-10 (0-3, SUMMIT), 7-0
MARCH 31, 2012 | VARSITY COURTS | MACOMB, ILL.

SINGLES
1.  Sara McLaughlin def. Ashley Rettger (WIU), 6-0, 6-1

2.  Nelle Youel def. Jessica Callahan (WIU), 6-0, 6-0
3.  Haley Dekkinga def. Jessica Theobald (WIU), 6-0, 6-0
4.  Mary Malkin def. Megan Pazdernick (WIU), 6-0, 6-0
5.  Stephanie McDonald def. Julie Schwartz (WIU), 6-0, 6-0
6.  Arantza De La Torre def. Jade Romero (WIU), 6-0, 6-0

DOUBLES
1.  McLaughlin/Rogers def. Rettger/Callahan (WIU), 8-0
2.  Youel/De La Torre def. Theobald/Schwartz (WIU), 8-0
3.  Dekkinga/McDonald def. Romero/Pazdernick (WIU), 8-0