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Women’s tennis opens MAC play this weekend

April 1, 2011
Sara McLaughlin

Sara McLaughlin

The Northern Illinois women’s tennis team will begin Mid-American Conference play this weekend with a pair of road matches.

The Huskies will travel to Eastern Michigan to open MAC play on Friday before wrapping up the weekend at Toledo on Saturday. Both matches are scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. CT.

The Huskies (2-8) return to the road to begin conference action after falling last time out to Chicago State, 4-3.

Sara McLaughlin and Ilse Pacheco each recorded singles win against Chicago State. McLaughlin has won two of her last three singles matches, splitting time between number four and five. Pacheco has earned victories in four of her last six singles matches playing exclusively at No. 6 prior to the Chicago State match when she moved up to No. 5.

“Our practices since the Chicago State match have been really good,” said NIU head coach Ryun Ferrell. “We have really hit a new level, attitude-wise, this week. I really believe that this is the most talented team I have had here, but our conference is so deep and tough that we need to be sure we are on our game every time out.”

Eastern Michigan enters weekend play with an even 8-8 overall record; the Eagles have alternated wins and losses over their last 10 matches, falling last time out against Miami (Ohio), 6-1.

Toledo is 10-6 overall and 4-1 at home this season. The Rockets defeated Ball State, 5-2, last time out for their first conference win of the season. Toledo is 1-1 in conference play.

For more information on NIU women’s tennis and Huskie athletics, visit www.niuhuskies.com.