Recap courtesy of Northern Illinois' Athletic Communications Department

DeKALB, Ill. - The Northern Illinois University women's tennis team competed in the Northwestern Invitational this weekend in Evanston, Ill. at the Combe Tennis Center along with Northwestern and DePaul. The three-day invite produced only individual results and no team scores. 

In total, the Huskies recorded eight doubles victories and two singles wins across the weekend. The invite was the last event for the Huskies before opening up the dual season this weekend for a three-match home stand. 

Day 1
NIU notched a pair of doubles wins over Northwestern on Friday afternoon. Isabella Righi / Lucia Yecora defeated NU's Maia Loureiro / Margot Phanthala 6-4. The sophomore duo of Irmak Budak / Theodora Kousiou downed NU's Autumn Rabjohns / Mika Dagan Fruchtman by the same score, 6-4. 

Day 2
On Saturday, NIU recorded another doubles victory over the Wildcats when Righi / Rebeca Garcia Miralles teamed up to defeat Erica Jessel / Katya Shepherd Johnson of Northwestern, 6-3. 

Against DePaul, the Huskies recorded two doubles wins. Malika Kabdesh / Nataly Ninova posted a 6-3 victory over Clara Nilsson / Hannah Smith. Righi scored another doubles win on the day, this time with Yecora as the pair defeated Helin Alvarez / Roberta Sechi, 6-2. 

Day 3
In the final day of the invitational, Kabdesh / Ninova posted their second doubles win of the weekend, defeating NU's Erica Jessel / Marelie Raath, 6-3. Garcia Miralles / Sophia Shlyakhta downed Northwestern's Maia Loureiro / Katya Shepherd Johnson, 6-4. 

Against DePaul, Righi / Yecora defeated Yasemin Pehlivan / Sasha Stula (DePaul) in a close match, holding on for a 7-6 (4) win. 

The Huskies posted a pair of three-set wins in singles to close out the weekend. Garcia Miralles won 7-5, 3-6, 6-0 over Helin Alvarez of DePaul while Yecora stormed back on DePaul's Yasemin Pehlivan, winning 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. 

Looking ahead
NIU will begin its dual season this weekend, beginning on Friday, Jan. 16 when the Huskies welcome Wisconsin for a 2 p.m. start at the Nelson Tennis Center at Chick Evans Field House. The following day on Saturday, Jan. 17, NIU hosts Missouri at 9 a.m. and Chicago State at 6 p.m.