Setting a new record for wins in a single season with its 21st win, NIU women’s tennis (21-5, 7-2 MAC) defeated the University at Buffalo Bulls (18-6, 5-4 MAC) in a 4-3 match to clinch the Mid-American Conference West Division title and earn its first berth to the Mid-American Conference tournament since 2017.
“We’ve been a good team from the start this year,” said NIU women’s tennis head coach Eric Burns. “They’ve really focused and battled for us and for their team, so for us to be rewarded and be able to get 21 wins and break that record and then have the chance to play for a championship, I just couldn’t be happier for everyone.”
The Huskies came out strong in doubles, earning wins at No. 2 and No. 3 to take the lead over the Bulls.
The No. 3 duo of senior Reagan Welch and junior Jenna Horne bested Buffalo freshmen Marta Giglio and Maria Glowacka in a 6-4 set before junior Isabella Righi and freshman Lucia Yecora sealed the doubles point with a 6-4 win at No. 2.
NIU senior Maria Dzemeshkevich and junior Nataly Ninova were leading a close 5-4 battle with Bulls graduate student Jagmeet Kaur and freshman Blanca Berges when the match was unfinished.
“It’s huge and it’s going to be huge in the conference tournament,” Burns said on the importance of the doubles point. “You just can’t play from behind in those situations. You always have to bet that there are going to be one of two people who are a little off or nervous, so you need every point you can get and want to get off to a good start.”
Ninova continued the record-setting day for the Huskies at No. 3 singles, setting a new record for most singles matches wins in a season. Sunday’s 6-0, 3-6, 6-1 victory over sophomore Julia Laspro was Ninova’s 29th singles win between the fall and spring seasons, surpassing Nelle Youel’s 28 singles wins from 2014-2015.
“It’s amazing,” Ninova said of the record breaking day for NIU. “It’s a feeling that I’m so glad I get to experience. These amazing people with everyone playing great. It’s a privilege to be a part of this team.”
“For her to be able to get that record says a lot,” said Burns on Ninova’s record. “That’s over a player like Nelle Youel, who’s the most storied player in the history of our program. She’s had one heck of a season.”
Freshman Irmak Budak took straight set wins over Glowacka in tight 7-6 (7-2), 7-5 sets to put the Huskies one point away from the team victory.
A comeback first set win and second set loss primed Yecora to be the clincher for NIU, who took a 7-5, 5-7, 6-3 match against Kaur to seal NIU’s record breaking day.
“It was a really tough second set,” Yecora said. “We were very close every game, so I just tried to focus on every point. Third set was a new mindset, a new set, just trying to play really well and try to do everything I could to win the match. I never thought I would be the clincher more than once, so I’m so grateful that I can be the clincher and that everyone is doing their job.”
Straight 6-4 sets from Bulls senior Esmee Andresen downed Dzemeshkevich at No. 1 singles, while Righi and NIU freshman Theodora Kousiou both lost first-to-ten tiebreakers at No. 5 and No. 6 singles.
PLAYING FOR THE TITLE
The Huskies take on the winner of the MAC East Division, Miami University, at noon Friday in Oxford, Ohio, to round out the regular season. The winner of the final match will earn the regular season title, as well as the No. 1 seed in the MAC Championship Tournament.
“I think we should all just try to go as if it’s just another match,” Ninova said. “Try not to think of what it actually means because that would put more pressure on us. Just try and see it as any other day, give it all the energy we have and just fight until the end.”
