April 19, 2012

DeKALB, Ill. - The Northern Illinois women's tennis team wraps up its regular season this weekend with a pair of home matches against Mid-American Conference foes Akron and Buffalo.

The Huskies will kick things off against the Zips (20-2, 6-1 MAC) on Saturday, April 21, at the West Tennis Courts at 1:00 p.m. CT. The team will then host its regular season finale and Senior Day on Sunday, April 22, at 1:00 p.m. when it takes on the Buffalo Bulls (6-11, 2-5 MAC). The Huskies have chance to grab seeds in the MAC Women's Tennis Championship Tournament as high as No. 4 and as low as No. 8. They currently sit in the No. 6 slot.

"It's just nice to be in the conversation for the MAC seeding," said NIU Head Coach Ryun Ferrell. "We are excited about that. We are also excited that we don't have to get in the van again, which is great. Hopefully the weather will hold out and we can play some tennis in DeKalb and do well. It's been a nice ride. These girls have worked very hard and deserve everything they get."

While the Senior Day match would normally mark the last time Sara McLaughlin (Moline, Ill./Moline) and Emily Rogers (Rochester, Minn./Century) play on the West Tennis Courts, this is may not be the case this season. The two four-year veterans will play at least one more match during the MAC Women's Tennis Championships, which will be hosted by NIU. The team has at least one potential match to be played at either the West Tennis Courts or at DeKalb High School.

"It's a very bittersweet moment for me because they are great kids and I'm going to miss them horribly," Ferrell said of McLaughlin and Rogers. "They are grown women now and are ready to move on with their lives. It's sad to see them go but I'm excited for what the future holds for both of them. They are both mature, smart young women that are going to be productive members of society. I look forward to seeing how their careers progress."