Feb. 1, 2013

DeKALB, Ill. - Coming off of a dominating weekend performance that resulted in a 3-0 start to the spring season, the Northern Illinois focuses its attention to this weekend's match against Southern Illinois (0-1). The 3-0 start is the best ever under sixth-year Head Coach Ryun Ferrell.

"We are working a ton on doubles," said Ferrell on his team's preperations for the weekend. "We haven't even thought about singles play whatsoever. So far what we've seen from our opponents is whoever gets to the net first wins. It's turning into an extremely aggressive game, more so than I thought it would be at this stage in the year. We are being over-aggressive in practice and working on our doubles play again and again. That doubles point is huge and we want to win it."

In singles play, the Huskies have not lost a match this season. As a result of the stellar opening weekend, No. 1 singles player Nelle Youel (Crystal Lake, Ill./Crystal Lake Central) was named the Mid-American Conference Women's Tennis Player of the Week. Youel has lost only two of 38 games in singles play this season.

The Huskies have fared nearly as well in doubles play, having won seven of nine matches. Coming off of a sweep of both Valparaiso and Western Illinois, the Huskies look to continue their hot start against Southern Illinois this Saturday, Feb. 2 at 1 p.m. CT in Rockford, Ill. at Boylan Tennis Center.