The Northern Illinois University women’s tennis team plays host to both Butler and Minnesota this weekend at the Nelson Tennis Center at Chick Evans Field House. The Bulldogs are up first, as NIU faces Butler at 3 p.m. on Friday while Saturday’s match against Minnesota is set for 6 p.m.

Admission to both matches is free. Check NIU Women’s Tennis schedule page and social media for live stats and streaming.

NIU (4-1) has won four straight and is building momentum into late January, winning last weekend’s two matches by a combined score of 12-2. The Huskies have been awarded Mid-American Player of the Week in consecutive weeks.

Sophomore Theodora Kousiou (Thessaloniki, Greece/Aristotelio College) was named Singles Player of the Week after going 2-0 at No. 2 singles. Kousiou was also 2-0 in doubles this weekend.

NIU defeated Marquette 6-1 on Friday, Jan. 23 at home and followed that up with a 6-1 win at Valparaiso the following day for the team’s first road win of the dual season. Sophomore Lucia Yecora (Seville, Spain/IES V Centenario School) is 4-1 in singles through five matches.

The Opponents
Butler (2-2) has wins over Marian and Bradley while falling to Purdue and Indiana. Chase Metcalf and Brooke Arington are 2-0 at No. 1 doubles in Butler’s two victories.

Minnesota (2-0) enters this weekend after winning its doubleheader over Iowa State and North Dakota last Friday. The Gophers went 10-2 in singles and 4-2 in doubles. Junior Jeselle Ante was named to the 2026 Big Ten Women’s Tennis Players to Watch List in the preseason.

Minnesota will play Western Michigan at the Nelson Tennis Center at Chick Evans Field House at 9 a.m. prior to their 6 p.m. match against NIU.