Sept. 11, 2011

DEKALB, Ill. - The Northern Illinois women's tennis team closed the NIU Invite Saturday evening and showed some flashes of potential for the spring season as Haley Dekkinga took the "Black" consolation draw.

Dekkinga finished a day earlier by winning the Huskie doubles draw with partner Nelle Youel. The Allegan, Mich. native finished the weekend 2-1, defeating Eastern Illinois' Merrit Whitley, 6-2, 5-7 (8) and falling to Katie Hargrove 0-6, 6-4 (4). In the consolation championship, Dekkinga defeated Bayley Brown of Lewis, 6-0, 6-0.

Teammate Ilse Pacheco advanced to another consolation draw but was unable to defeat Whitley in the final, falling 6-2, 6-0.

"We looked very tough today - I was very pleased about the effort" said Head Coach Ryun Ferrell. "We have a lot of work to do, but a nice foundation has been laid. We have three weeks to get ready for our next tournament and I can not wait to get to work to see what this group will do next."

The Huskies will return to action Sept. 30-Oct. 2 for the Western Michigan Invite.

BLACK - CONSOLATION DRAW CHAMPIONSHIP
Merrit Whitley (EIU) def. Ilse Pacheco (NIU) 6-2, 6-0

BLACK - BACK DRAW CHAMPIONSHIP
Haley Dekkinga (NIU) def. Bayley Brown (Lewis) 6-0, 6-0

RED - CONSOLATION DRAW CHAMPIONSHIP
Jennifer Kim (EIU) def. Sara McLaughlin (NIU) 6-4, 6-2

HUSKIE - CHAMPIONSHIP DRAW
Dekkinga/Youel (NIU) def. Pacheco/ De La Torre (NIU) 8-2