DeKALB – NIU women’s tennis head coach Eric Burns moved into sole possession of second place on the program’s all-time wins list Friday after back-to-back wins on home court to open the weekend.

The Huskies (17-4, 3-1 MAC) kicked off the day with a 4-3 win against the reigning Mid-American Conference champion, the University of Toledo. The outcome marked NIU’s first victory against the Rockets (9-5, 2-2 MAC) in eight years – and its first with Burns at the helm.

“It just feels great to get this match today,” Burns said after NIU’s win against Toledo. “It’s been a while since we beat these guys, and they’re defending champions. For us to be able to break through here and get a big win, especially at home, is pretty great for us.”

After a two-hour break, NIU closed out Friday’s action with its final non-conference match of the season against Chicago State University, sending the winless Cougars (0-8, 0-0 Horizon) home with a 7-0 silencing.

With 87th and 88th wins in his sixth season in DeKalb, Burns has passed Laura Scott on the school’s wins leaderboard, sitting only behind Patty Groth and her 128 victories.

DOWN GO THE CHAMPS

Despite an early loss by NIU’s No. 1 pairing of senior Maria Dzemeshkevich and junior Nataly Ninova, the Huskies jumped to a 1-0 start versus Toledo by claiming the doubles point.

NIU evened doubles play with a 6-4 win at the No. 2 spot by junior Isabella Righi and freshman Lucia Yecora. The Huskies’ No. 3 doubles duo of junior Jenna Horne and senior Reagan Welch then clinched the doubles point with a 6-4 win.

“The doubles point was huge,” Burns said. “We had to get that to get this match, and the path was pretty clear, although we did turn a match or two that we thought could be tough.”

At No. 4 singles, Ninova survived a second-set scare to come away with a victory over sophomore Jone Ibanez in straight sets, 6-1, 6-4. Yecora chased Ninova’s win with a back-and-forth duel at the No. 3 spot against sophomore Gaby Rondon. Yecora rallied from a 4-1 first-set deficit and bounced back from a 6-1 loss in Set 2 to win in three sets, 6-4, 1-6, 6-0.

“I tried to be more aggressive when I had to, but also solid,” Yecora said. “I think that worked – the slides to her back hand and then be aggressive to her forehand.”

The pair of singles wins by the Spain products, along with freshman Irmak Budak’s three-set defeat at No. 2, put the Huskies to a 3-1 advantage, needing one more win to take the contest.

Enter Dzemeshkevich.

The University of Houston transfer faced off against Toledo junior Audrey Moutama in the first singles spot. Dzmeshkevich fell behind early after a 6-4 loss in the first before tying the match with a 6-3 second-set win.

“In the beginning, it was difficult. I didn’t really feel like I’m playing 100%,” Dzemeshkevich said. “Then towards the end, it was kind of easier, because I saw the scores of other girls, and I was like, ‘I really need to try.’”

The Moscow, Russia, native then came through in the deciding set to take the match, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, and guarantee NIU a weekend-opening win.

The Huskies played out their remaining No. 5 and No. 6 singles matches, with junior Isabella Righi and freshman Theodora Kouisou each succumbing in straight sets.

OVERWHELMING WINS OVER SHORTHANDED COUGARS

Before NIU could make its first serve of Friday’s second match, the Huskies already had the upper hand due to Chicago State’s depleted roster. With only four players available for Friday’s match, the Cougars were forced to forfeit their matches at No. 3 doubles and Nos. 5 and 6 in singles.

Needing just one win to claim the match’s doubles point, the Huskies over-delivered with a pair of resounding victories.

At the No. 1 spot, Horne and Welch defeated Chicago State junior Mackenzie King and senior Danina Hughes in a 6-2 decision. Meanwhile, NIU’s No. 2 pairing of Budak and sophomore Sydney Paradise blanked CSU senior Karoline Riisnæs and senior Trinity Babcock 6-0.

In singles, the Huskies delivered a clean sweep in the top four spots. No. 1 Ninova and No. 2 Welch each defeated their Cougar counterparts in straight sets, both winning 6-1, 6-1.

NIU completed its rout with a pair of singles shoutouts by No. 3 Horne and No. 4 Paradise, each winning by identical set scores of 6-0, 6-0.

QUEENS OF THE WEST

After Friday’s results, NIU maintains the best overall record in the MAC and keeps its spot atop the MAC West Division. The Huskies’ 3-1 mark in league play ranks second in the conference, trailing only Miami University’s perfect 4-0 start.

Six matches now remain in the NIU’s regular season, the next being a rematch with Ball State University (8-6, 2-1 MAC). The Cardinals – losers of their past two outings – previously handed the Huskies their first MAC loss in a 5-2 result March 21 in Muncie, Indiana.

“Hopefully, we can get a little revenge from that unfortunate match we had there last week,” Burns said. “I think we’ll be ready to go. We’re determined. We’re pretty strong on our court.”

Play is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. Sunday inside the Nelson Tennis Center at Chick Evans Field House. The match will be streamed on Track Tennis, with live scores available on iOnCourt.