DeKALB – Two victories in three-set matches pushed NIU women’s tennis (2-2) to a 4-3 victory over the Bellarmine Knights (3-5). Victories in doubles and singles matches led the team to its second win of the season, and its second of the weekend.
Junior duo Angelica Ross and Erika Dimitriev defeated Bellarmine freshman duo Marika Caruk and Nikola Kollaritsch by a score of 6-4.
The Huskies split their singles matches, with three Huskies winning their matches.
Welch, Horne, and Ross all lost their single matches, each in straight sets. Welch was defeated by Kryslova (1-6, 5-7), Horne lost to Kramarova (3-6, 62-77), and Ross fell to Kollaritsch (1-6, 1-6).
Righi won both of her sets against Kanna Hagi (6-1, 6-4), after winning in straight sets against Marquette.
After a three-set singles match against Marquette on Friday, Dimitriev took Tikhonko to another three set match today. Losing the first set 4-6, she rallied and won her next two sets by a score of 6-2, leading to a victory.
Sophomore Jenna Horne and junior Reagan Welch cruised through their match against Bellarmine freshman Erica Kanna Hagi and junior Yeva Kramarova, winning 6-2.
Ending in a 5-5 incomplete match, senior Diana Lukyanova and sophomore Isabella Righi tied their match against sophomore Vendula Kryslova and junior Ekaterina Tikhonko.
In another three-set match, Lukyanova defeated Caruk in their match. Lukyanova won the first set 6-4, and then dropped the second by a score of 1-6. She fought back in the last set, and did not give up a point in a 6-0 win.
The Huskies play next at 10 a.m. on Friday at the Black Hawk Tennis Center in Cedar Falls, Iowa against the University of Northern Iowa.