The Northern Illinois University women’s tennis team dropped its Mid-American Conference opener to Ball State Sunday afternoon in Muncie as BSU’s opening doubles point win proved to be the difference with the teams splitting the six singles matches.

Ball State’s Elena Malykh and Sydney Hrehor scored a 6-2 win at No. 3 doubles over NIU’s Anastasia Rakita and Reagan Welch, while the Cardinals’ No. 1 team of Isabelle Tanjuatco and Sarah Shahbaz clinched the doubles point with a 6-3 win over the Huskies’ Isabella Righi and Diana Lukyanova.

Three of the six singles matches went to three sets, with BSU claiming three-set wins at No. 1 and No. 3 singles over Diana Lukyanova and Nataly Ninova, respectively, while NIU’s Welch picked up a 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Tanjuatco in the No. 5 spot.

The Huskies’ Jenna Horne won her match at No. 6 singles in straight sets, 6-1, 6-3.  Erika Dimitriev accounted for NIU’s remaining point as her opponent at No. 2 singles retired due to injury.

NIU is now 11-6, 0-1 MAC while Ball State improved to 4-9, 1-0 MAC.

Ball State 4, NIU 3

Muncie, Indiana

March 17, 2024

Singles

1. Annika Planinsek (BSU) def. Diana Lukyanova (NIU) 0-6, 7-5, 6-1
2. Erika Dimitriev (NIU) def. Sarah Shahbaz (BSU) 2-6, 4-3 (retired)
3. Elena Malykh (BSU) def. Nataly Ninova (NIU) 6-2, 2-6, 7-5
4. Sydney Hrehor (BSU) def. Isabella Righi (NIU) 6-3, 6-2
5. Reagan Welch (NIU) def. Isabelle Tanjuatco (BSU) 3-6, 6-4, 6-2
6. Jenna Horne (NIU) def. Ella Hazelbaker (BSU) 6-1, 6-3

Doubles

1. Isabelle Tanjuatco/Sarah Shahbaz (BSU) def. Isabella Righi/Diana Lukyanova (NIU), 6-3
2. Annika Planinsek/Ella Hazelbaker (BSU) vs. Erika Dimitriev/Nataly Ninova (NIU), 3-2 DNF
3. Elena Malykh/Sydney Hrehor (BSU) def. Anastasia Rakita/Reagan Welch (NIU), 6-2