NIU women’s tennis has not had the season it hoped for, but there have been a few bright spots.

One of the best surprises for head coach Ryun Ferrell’s squad has been freshman Haley Dekkinga.

Coming into NIU after a four-year run as one of Michigan’s top high school players, she has stepped into her role with NIU tennis perfectly.

Ferrell was quick to admit that he did not have any expectations for Dekkinga when she first joined the team. With any incoming freshman, he wants to be convinced that the player can contribute to his team. Dekkinga has shown that to Ferrell through her desire to win and relentless attitude on the court.

“When I first watched Haley play I thought, ‘Eh, she’s okay,'” Ferrell said. “But it’s the intangibles that she’s so good at. She wants to win every point. If she golden sets you, she’ll still find a reason why it’s not good enough.”

Dekkinga’s intangibles have quickly made her one of Ferrell’s “go-to girls.” Her attitude is one that Ferrell believes is important for the team. With her unwillingness to give up, she has proven to opponents that she will not go down without a fight.

A statistic that epitomizes Dekkinga’s performance is, that despite boasting only a 5-7 singles record, she has yet to be shut out in a losing set. Ferrell attributes that to her fierce competitiveness.

“If you make her mad, she gets tougher; if you make her happy, she gets tougher,” Ferrell said. “She just loves tennis and loves to compete.”

When asked what gives her the advantage against opponents, Dekkinga was quick to agree with her coach, saying that she fights to the end, never giving up and always trying to extend matches to three sets when she falls behind.

Dekkinga said she feels one area she has improved in since joining the program is her on-court intensity. Because of the level of competition she is constantly up against, she feels her intense focus has helped her to grow as a player and individual.

“I’ve gotten better at keeping intense throughout my matches,” Dekkinga said. “Also, I think college tennis helps me learn how to balance my life better.”

As much as she loves going up against the competition, Dekkinga’s favorite part of college tennis is the bond she has with her teammates and coaches.

“Everyone’s really supportive,” Dekkinga said. “We all hang out, even away from tennis, and we’re all friends. It’s kind of like a family.”

Dekkinga will be out on the court with the rest of her team as the Huskies host conference foe Miami (OH) today at 1 p.m.