NIU defeated Winona State to earn Sunday’s bye

| Box Score 2 BLOOMINGTON/WINONA, Minn. The Northern Illinois University women’s tennis team split road matches in Minnesota on Sunday, dropping a 4-3 decision to St. Thomas in Bloomington before winning 6-1 at Winona State.

NIU won a doubles point to break open a late match with the freshman duo Isabella Righi and Nataly Ninova won 6-2 in 2nd place Diana Lukyanova and McKenna skinny in doubles to shut out their opponents at No. 3, 6-0. The teams were paired for the first time this year in a double match.

Erika Dimitriev and Angelica Ross teamed up at No. 1 doubles for the first time this spring on Sunday and went 1-1 on the day, beating Winona State, 6-1, to allow NIU to sweep the singles matches. The Huskies also won five singles matches in straight sets, with the only loss coming at No. 2 after Lukyanova retired.

Nataly Ninova, Angelica Ross and Isabella Righi all went undefeated in singles that day. After winning their Nos. 4, 5 and 6 singles matches in straight sets at St. Thomas, which accounts for the Huskies’ three points in that match, they won 3, 4 and 5 against Winona State. Erika Dimitriev won her match over Winona State’s Beth Murman 6-1, 6-1 and Chudy dispatched her opponent 6-1, 6-0 at No. 6 singles.

St. Thomas’ No. 2 pair of Olivia Paradise-Shrichandrakala Tentu beat NIU Reagan Welch and Ninova in the tiebreaker to give the Tommies a double point that proved to be the deciding point of the match.

With Sunday’s split, NIU’s dual meet record is 8-7. The Huskies return home next Saturday, March 4, to face Drake and Wisconsin-Whitewater at the Nelson Tennis Center in Chick Evans Field House.

NIU 6, Winona State 1

Winona Tennis Center, Winona, Minn.

Double up

1. Erika Dimitriev/Angelica Ross (NIU) def. Beth Murman/Sara Anderson (WSU), 6-1
2. Isabella Righi/Nataly Ninova (NIU) def. Rachel Kelly/Ally Burger (WSU), 6-2
3. Diana Lukyanova/McKenna skinny (NIU) def. Clara Thoemke/Maddie Moe (WSU), 6-0

Singles

1. Erika Dimitriev (NIU) def. Beth Murman (WSU), 6-1, 6-1
2. Rachel Kelly (WSU) def. Diana Lukyanova (NIU), 6-4, 0-1, ret.
3. Nataly Ninova (NIU) def. Sara Anderson (WSU), 6-3, 6-2
4. Angelica Ross (NIU) def. Ally Burger (WSU), 6-1, 6-0
5. Isabella Righi (NIU) def. Miranda Daulong (WSU), 6-0, 6-1
6. McKenna skinny (NIU) def. Clara Thoemke (WSU), 6-1, 6-0

St. Thomas 4, NIU 3

Lifetime Fitness Courts, Bloomington, Minn.

Double up

1. Nicole Snezhko-Monterey Knewtson (ST) def. Erika Dimitriev–Angelica Ross (NIU), 6-4
2. Olivia Paradise-Shrichandrakala Tentu (ST) def. Reagan Welch–Nataly Ninova (NIU), 7-6 (7-2)
3. Isabella Righi–Diana Lukyanova (NIU) def. Jannah ElNemr-Martha Degeorges (ST), 6-1

Singles

1. Martha Degeorges (ST) def. Erika Dimitriev (NIU), 6-3, 6-2
2. Jannah ElNemr (ST) def. Diana Lukyanova (NIU), 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
3. Olivia Paradise (ST) def. Reagan Welch (NIU), 6-3, 2-6, 6-4
4. Nataly Ninova (NIU) def. Shrichandrakala Tentu (ST), 6-0, 6-3
5. Angelica Ross (NIU) def. Nicole Snezhko (ST), 6-2, 6-1
6. Isabella Righi (NIU) def. Monterey Knewtson (ST), 6-2, 6-0

— NIU —

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