April 21, 2007

Akron, Ohio - The Huskies put together an all-around good performance to notch their first Mid-American Conference win of the year in their last regular season match of the year, defeating Akron, 5-2. The win moves the Huskies to 5-11, 1-7 in MAC play. The loss for Akron puts their record at 9-12, 0-8 in the MAC.

NIU had their footing today and they were on their toes, which allowed them to take the doubles point. The Huskies lost the first doubles match, but recovered to win the next two and take the doubles point. Lilian Asuaje and Nao Umemura beat Akron's Lindsey Berry and Jenna Larson at number two doubles, 8-6. Dora Delgadillo and Jenny Edner, at number three doubles, defeated the Zips' Alyssa Carlson and Aude Percherin, 8-5. Delgadillo and Edner have now won seven of their last eight doubles matches.

The Huskies' singles play started out slow, losing their first two matches, but they regrouped and put together four consecutive wins to close out the match. Nao Umemura got the Huskies started by beating Amy Sherlock, 4-6, 6-2, 10-6, at number three singles. Brooke Forsberg, at number four singles, picked up NIU's third point of the match by taking down Lindsey Berry in straight-sets, 6-0, 6-2. Sealing the deal in straight-sets for the Huskies was Dora Delgadillo, who was victorious over Alyssa Carlson, 6-1, 6-0, at number five singles. At number six singles, Megan Brooks added one more to the Huskies point total by winning in straight-sets over Laura Hemlepp, 6-0, 6-2.

NIU head coach Ryun Ferrell was happy with the victory, but wants to keep his team focused as they head into the MAC championships.

"It was a solid performance, but we still have stuff to work on to be ready for [Akron] again next Thursday," commented Ferrell.

The Huskies will play Akron again in the MAC championships on Thursday, April 26 at 12pm in Toledo, Ohio. NIU will be the seventh-seed and Akron will be the eighth-seed. The winner of that match will then face number one-seed Western Michigan on Friday, April 27 at 10am.

-NIU

Results

Doubles

1) Gombera/Sherlock (Akron) def. Brooks/Forsberg (NIU) 8-7 (7-2)

2) Asuaje/Umemura (NIU) def. Larson/Berry (Akron) 8-6

3) Delgadillo/Edner (NIU) def. Carlson/Percherin (Akron) 8-5

Singles

1) Tanya Gombera (Akron) def Lilian Asuaje (NIU) 6-7, 7-1, 10-5

2) Jenna Larson (Akron) def. Jenny Edner (NIU) 6-0, 3-6, 10-8

3) Nao Umemura (NIU) def. Amy Sherlock (Akron) 4-6, 6-2, 10-6

4) Brooke Forsberg (NIU) def. Lindsey Berry (Akron) 6-0, 6-2

5) Dora Delgadillo (NIU) def. Alyssa Carlson (Akron) 6-1, 6-0

6) Megan Brooks (NIU) def. Laura Hemlepp (Akron) 6-3, 6-3

Northern Illinois University Women's Tennis

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