Haley Dekkinga
The Northern Illinois women’s tennis team lost its second straight match in Carbondale on Sunday to Southern Illinois. The Salukis, now 4-1 on the season, beat NIU 5-2 despite another strong showing from the Huskies.
“We had it,” said head coach Ryun Ferrell. “We did everything but win today. In the big picture, you hate losing, but I like where this team is. We played some of our best tennis this weekend. I see great things in the near future.”
Eking out victories for NIU were freshman Nelle Youel (Crystal Lake, Ill./Crystal Lake Central) and sophomore Haley Dekkinga (Allegan, Mich./Allegan). Youel picked up her sixth victory of the season by taking down SIU’s Anita Lee in three sets, 6-3, 2-6, 6-3. Also winning for the sixth time this season was Dekkinga, who defeated Natasha Tomishima by a score of 7-5, 6-2.
Despite the loss, the sophomore/freshman tandem of Dekkinga and Stephanie McDonald (Harare, Zimbabwe/St. Anne’s Diocesan College) proved to be hitting their stride as teammates. The duo won their fifth match in a row after beating Saluki twins Ariadna and Gisela Cairo Baza 8-5.
The Huskies will look to bounce back Sunday, March 4, when they take on Milwaukee. The second home match of the season will take place at the Boylan Tennis Center in Rockford, Ill. with play set to begin at 1 p.m.
For more information on NIU women’s tennis and Huskie athletics, visit www.niuhuskies.com.
