The NIU women’s tennis team at the Bradley Invitational Sunday with senior Abigail Dekkinga earning her way to the C flight singles match.

“The team did well, especially during singles,” Head Hoach Tanya Mahefu said. “Our ability to grind out matches and play hard to the end will help us improve continuously.”

Freshman Thisuri Molligoda finished third place in the A Flight Singles. Molligoda defeated Alina Kuzmenkova of DePaul, (6-0, 4-6, 10-7). Sandra Maletin of Bradley University defeated Molligoda in two sets, (6-3,6-2). Molligoda went on to defeat Lenka Antonijevic of DePaul University for third place, (7-6(4), 6-4).

Freshman Maria Potsi finished seventh place in the B Flight Singles. In the first match, Srishti Slaria of Eastern Illinois University defeated Potsi (6-2,6-2). Marija Jovicic of DePaul University defeated Potsi (6-2,6-4) in the second match. Potsi the defeated Karla Contreas of Eastern Illinois University (6-2, 6-3) to take seventh place in B Flight Singles.

Dekkinga defeated Claire Martin of Eastern Illinois University (6-4, 6-4) to advance to face Alexa Brandt of Bradley University. Dekkinga went on to defeat Brandt (6-1, 4-6, 10-5). Dekkinga went on to the championship match where she failed to win against Ivon Mihavela of Illinois State University (2-6, 7-6, 10-5).

In the A Flight Doubles, the NIU doubles team of Dekkinga and Molligoda were defeated by Kustova and Mihaleva of Illinois State University 7-5.

In the B Flight Doubles, Molligoda and Potsi came in seventh place after defeating Gonzales and Milanes of Western Illinois University 8-6.

With the short fall season over, Mahefu said the team is growing and hopes they are ready for a good spring season.

“We are in right direction for a promising spring,” said Mahefu, according to NIU Media Services.

NIU will return to the court Oct. 12 when the Huskies travel to Ann Arbor, Michigan for the ITA Regionals.