Nelle Youel
The Huskies hosted the Cardinal Stritch Wolves (17-4) on Friday, playing their last non-conference match of the 2014 spring season. NIU was able to get the better of this one, winning 6-0 and improving the team’s record to 7-10 this spring.
“My team did not disappoint,” said head coach Ryun Ferrell. “They took care of business. CSU is a very good team and will have success at the NAIA national tournament.”
It was strong performance from start to finish for the Huskies.
Beginning with doubles play, Nelle Youel and Arantza De La Torre made quick work of Natalie Grieve and Jitsuda Sirinit in the No. 1, 8-0. Mary Malkin and Stephanie McDonald followed with an 8-1 win in the No. 3 over Katy Adarmes and Emily Kaftan. This sealed the doubles point for NIU as the team headed into singles with a 1-0 lead.
NIU was dominating as a team in singles play. Youel kicked things off with a 6-1, 6-0 win in the No. M1 over Alexi Loomis. It was her 10th victory of the spring. Malkin followed with another win for the Huskies. She took down Katy Adarmes in the No. 4, 6-2, 6-0.
Maria Rozo
Maria Rozo got in on the fun with a victory in the No. 6. She defeated Emily Kaftan in the contest, 6-1, 6-0. Cristina Alvarez notched her eighth victory in 2014, besting Natalie Grave 6-4, 6-1. De la Torre finished the affair with a win in the No. 3 over Amanda Timm, 7-5, 6-1.
This left the Huskies ahead 6-0 in the end, claiming their seventh win of the spring.
“It was great to be at home,” Ferrell said. “It does not happen often, so to play at NIU was a lot of fun. Now we get a weekend off, giving us the opportunity to get some rest. We have one more weekend to make some noise in this league and this team is very ready to go.”
NIU has two matches remaining on the spring schedule to attain a spot in the MAC Championship Tournament. Next up is Toledo. The Huskies will host the Rockets at 11 a.m. Friday, April 18.
For more information on NIU women’s tennis and Huskie athletics, visit www.niuhuskies.com.
