While the U.S. Open was continuing its action, Indiana hosted its own tennis tournament which proved to be prosperous for certain individuals on the Huskie team.

Sophomore Kathi Kennedy was the only NIU player to go through the weekend undefeated at her number six-seven singles position. Kennedy started the weekend with wins over Miami’s (OH) Amy Lichon 6-2, 6-1 and Purdue’s Dana Pearson 6-0, 6-0 by default. She continued Saturday with a 6-1, 6-3 win over the Boilermakers’ own Heather Richter and finished by beating Southern Illinois’ Michelle Toy 6-2, 6-2.

Natacha Koprivica, playing at number one singles for the Huskies, went .500 on the weekend as she defeated Linda Gates 7-5, 6-0 from Illinois and Miami’s Meg Boyle 6-4, 2-6, 6-2. Koprivica lost matches to Indiana’s Candy Kopetzki in three sets 3-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-0 and to SIU’s Beth Boardman 6-3, 6-4.

While NIU did not end above .500, the Huskies won 16 of their 36 matches. For a season opener, NIU boss Patty Fick could not complain about her athletes’ performances.

“This was a good way for us to start the season,” Fick said. “We picked up some nice wins and were competitive with Illinois and Southern Illinois, teams that always play us tough in the spring.”

The Huskies will take on the Marquette Warriors for a 2 p.m. contest on Sunday.