The Northern Illinois University women’s tennis team swept the singles matches to defeat Western Michigan, 6-1, to earn the Huskies’ first win over the Broncos in Kalamazoo in at least 20 years.

NIU came back after losing the doubles point with losses at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles to take all six singles matches, including five straight-set victories. The Huskies are now 15-4 overall, 2-1 versus Mid-American Conference competition.

“We’re really proud of the effort and the great comeback in singles after a slow start in doubles,” said NIU head coach Eric Burns. “We came out a little flat in doubles and didn’t have the energy we needed to start, but the response was really good to come out and win five of six matches in straight sets on their home court.”

Freshmen Lucia Yecora started NIU’s singles run with a 6-0, 6-3 win over Frida Weijerman at No. 3 singles. Irmak Budak and Nataly Ninova put two more points on the board with wins at No. 2 and No. 4 singles, respectively and freshman Theodora Kousiou clinched the NIU win by taking her match at No. 6 singles, 7-5, 7-5. Wins by Isabella Righi at No. 5 and Maria Dzemeshkevich, who came back after losing the first set at No. 1, completed the NIU sweep.

“The freshmen (Yecora, Budak, Kousiou) are playing out of their minds right now,” Burns said. “This was very solid to come back against a team that had a good win over Eastern Michigan [Friday]. I don’t think NIU has won here in quite a while so it feels good to leave here with a win.”

NIU had just three wins over the Broncos in 23 meetings since 2005 entering Sunday’s match, with two of those wins n DeKalb in the last three years and the other in DeKalb in 2017.

The Huskies return to the Nelson Tennis Center at Chick Evans Field House on Friday, March 28 with a pair of matches, beginning at 1 pm versus Toledo, followed by a 6 pm match against Chicago State.

NIU 6, WMU 1

March 23, 2025 – Kalamazoo, Mich.

West Hills Athletic Club

Singles

1. Maria Dzemeshkevich (NIU) def. Lola Glantz (WMU) 2-6, 6-4, 6-3
2. Irmak Budak (NIU) def. Christine Gouws (WMU) 6-3, 6-2
3. Lucia Yecora (NIU) def. Frida Weijerman (WMU) 6-0, 6-3
4. Nataly Ninova (NIU) def. Polina Khotko (WMU) 6-4, 6-3
5. Isabella Righi (NIU) def. Marielou Baudouin (WMU) 7-5, 6-4
6. Theodora Kousiou (NIU) def. Julia Frazier (WMU) 7-5, 7-5

Doubles

1. Lola Glant/Audrey Smitek (WMU) def. Maria Dzemeshkevich/Nataly Ninova (NIU) 6-4
2. Christine Gouws/Marielou Baudouin (WMU) def. Isabella Righi/Lucia Yecora (NIU) 6-0
3. Jenna Horne/Reagan Welch (NIU) vs. Polina Khotko/Frida Weijerman (WMU) 5-4 unfinished

Order of Finish

Singles: 3, 2, 4, 6, 5, 1,
Doubles: 2, 1,