The Northern Illinois University (NIU) women’s tennis team concluded its fall 2024 tournament schedule on a high note, delivering an outstanding performance at the Huskie Indoor Invitational held at the Nelson Tennis Center in Chick Evans Field House, DeKalb, Illinois. The three-day event saw NIU players dominate the competition, finishing with an impressive general record and securing multiple titles in both singles and doubles categories. Let’s recap the tournament highlights, and team achievements, and look ahead to the upcoming spring season.
Impressive Tournament Performance
At the Huskie Indoor Invitational, the NIU women’s tennis team showcased their talent and determination, clinching or sharing titles in three out of five singles flights and both doubles flights. The Huskies displayed exceptional form throughout the event, accumulating 29 wins out of 32 matches. This included a flawless 11-0 record in doubles and an impressive 18-3 mark in singles, underscoring their dominance in the tournament.
Head coach Eric Burns praised the team’s resilience, noting, “We had a lot of really good performances this tournament. Even in matches where we weren’t as sharp, we fought through, kept it close, and showed resilience. The doubles were dominant, and we felt good about that, even with different pairings compared to our last tournament.”
Singles and Doubles Highlights
In the singles competition, senior players Erika Dimitriev and Maria Dzemeshkevich shared the Flight 1 title, showcasing their experience and consistency. Junior Nataly Ninova claimed the Flight 2 title, while freshman Irmak Budak triumphed in the Black Flight, marking a significant achievement early in her career. In doubles, Dimitriev and Ninova teamed up to share the Flight 1 title with teammates Jenna Horne and Lucia Yecora. Meanwhile, Reagan Welch and Dzemeshkevich partnered to secure the Flight 2 doubles crown, further solidifying the team’s strength across all disciplines.
The Huskies faced off against competitors from Marquette, St. Thomas, Lewis, and IU-Indianapolis, among others. This tournament allowed NIU players to not only showcase their skills but also gain valuable experience against a range of formidable opponents.
NIU Women’s Tennis (image via Getty)Looking Ahead: Spring Dual Matches and Player Development
The Huskie Indoor Invitational wrapped up what was a highly successful fall season for the NIU women’s tennis team, which saw four newcomers make their debut alongside six returning players. Coach Burns expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance but emphasized the importance of continued improvement heading into the dual match season in January. “We’re happy with the fall results but know there’s still work to be done before the dual match season in January,” he stated. “We had general success, allowing new players to gain valuable experience and learn what to expect on the doubles court.”
Dimitriev, who had an excellent fall season and qualified for the Main Draw at ITA Regionals, finished the Huskie Indoor Invitational undefeated in both singles and doubles. Dzemeshkevich, a transfer from the University of Houston, also went unbeaten, contributing greatly to the team’s success. Other standout performances came from Ninova, who showed continuous improvement throughout the fall and reached the semifinals at the MAC Indoors.
Freshmen Yecora and Budak made significant strides, entering the weekend with strong singles records of 6-1 and 5-2, respectively. Unfortunately, rookie Theodora Kousiou missed the Huskie Indoor Invitational due to injury but had previously impressed with a win against Michigan State at the ITA Regionals.
Coach Burns acknowledged the efforts of the newcomers, saying, “Lucia and Irmak had a fantastic fall. Theodora faced tough competition. All four newcomers are expected to step up and contribute this spring, and they are all capable of being in the lineup.”
Spring Season Preparations
Looking ahead, the NIU women’s tennis team is focused on preparing for the upcoming spring season. The Huskies will return to competition from January 10-12 at the Northwestern Invitational in Evanston before beginning their 2025 dual-match season on January 17. Their first dual match will see them travel to Missouri to face Lindenwood and Saint Louis. The team’s strong performance at the Huskie Indoor Invitational has set the stage for what promises to be an exciting spring season.
As always, Etruesports will be closely following the NIU women’s tennis team, providing fans with updates and insights as they are on their spring campaign. Stay tuned for more engaging content and coverage of the Huskies’ journey throughout the season.
