Coming off its first Mid-American Conference win against Eastern Michigan University, NIU women’s tennis (14-3, 1-0 MAC) holds an impressive .824 win percentage.
Here are my three takeaways from covering the team this season, and why I believe they have the potential to be MAC championship contenders.
DOUBLES DOMINANCE
A large contributor to the Huskies’ 14-3 start is their ability to gain momentum early and win the doubles point.
In 17 matches on the season, NIU has won the doubles point in 12 of them, going 30-13 in doubles matches as a team.
The duo of senior Reagan Welch and junior Jenna Horne have been an anchor for the Huskies in the No. 3 singles spot, going 10-3 on the season. The duo was named the MAC Doubles Team of the Week on Feb. 18 after going on an 8-0 undefeated streak to start the season.
Each of the Huskies’ three losses this season started with dropping the doubles point, but their consistency in the early part of team matches bodes well for their ability to win crucial matches later in the season.
IMPRESSIVE FRESHMEN
The freshmen have been major contributors to the success of this team, especially freshmen Irmak Budak and Lucia Yecora.
Budak holds a 12-2 record, playing at the No. 1 or 2 singles spot. Two of her toughest wins came in losses for the Huskies, winning a match against opponents from the University of Missouri and Cornell University.
Yecora has only conceded one match this season, falling in a three hour battle in the Huskies’ loss to Cornell. She avoided the sweep in NIU’s 6-1 loss against the University of Wisconsin-Madison, winning a tiebreaker set for the match win.
Both have been named the MAC Singles Player of the Week, with Budak earning the honor twice in her debut season.
Not only have these freshmen come in and played well in their first year, but they are consistently in the lineup of a very strong team. Their ability to fight in long matches and come out on top will greatly benefit the team as they continue MAC play.
TOP TO BOTTOM TALENT
In a team that’s been so dominant at the top singles spots, the players in the bottom half of the lineup have played just as well.
The Huskies have gone 36-11 in the bottom three singles spots, with a mix of players coming in and out of the lineup. Seven different Huskies have played in these crucial roles, each contributing to the dominance of the team.
No player on the roster has lost more than three singles matches, a promising number for a team that’s faced tough opponents in the Big 10, SEC and Ivy League.
No matter the lineup on a given day, the Huskies are dangerous from top to bottom. The flexibility to put out different players in different spots within the lineup and have positive results can take the Huskies far, especially as they face tougher conference opponents.
ROAD TO A CHAMPIONSHIP
After missing the MAC Championship Tournament last season, I believe that this year’s team is a strong contender for a MAC title. Sitting with the second best record in the MAC, behind the University at Buffalo, after the first match of conference play, there is a lot of potential for this team.
If they continue playing the way they have been, NIU women’s tennis is in for a very strong rest of the season and a bid to the postseason.
