The Northern Illinois University women’s tennis team battled top-seeded Kansas State in the quarterfinals of the UTR Sports NIT Championship, losing a tightly contested 4-2 match on Tuesday morning.

“We fought extremely hard against the top seed and a Big 12 team and had chances to win. Matches like this are why you choose to participate in the NIT,” said head coach Eric Burns. “I want our program to appreciate every opportunity we have to play together … We will gain confidence and more belief as a program as a result of how we competed in this match.”

In doubles, Rebeca Garcia Miralles / Lucia Yecora recorded a swift 6-0 win over the Wildcats at No. 3, only the second time the duo has played together this season.

The Huskies clinched the doubles point following a 7-6 (6-4) win at No. 1 as Theodora Kousiou / Nataly Ninova defeated All-Big 12 First Team Doubles selects Maralgoo Chogsomjav / Martaa Chogsomjav.

“Nat and T were excellent today in doubles and got a huge win over a First Team All-Big 12 doubles team to clinch the doubles point. That gave us a lot of energy and belief heading into singles,” said Burns. “Rebeca was excellent today and really took care of business in both singles and doubles.”

Shifting to singles, Garcia Miralles (Castellón, Spain / IES Sos Baynat) kept the hot hand with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Addison Renfro at No. 6.

Kansas State answered with wins at No. 4 and No. 1 to tie the match at 2-2. Yecora (Seville, Spain / IES V Centenario School) battled Martaa Chogsomjav at No. 3 before falling 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 to give the Wildcats the lead.

Kousiou (Thessaloniki, Greece / Aristotelio College) dropped the first set to Varvara Bernovich at No. 2 and answered in the second with a 7-5 win. Bernovich prevailed in the third set for a 6-2, 5-7, 6-1 to clinch for the Wildcats.

Jenna Horne’s match with Chanel Rustemova at No. 5 was unfinished with Horne (Glenview, Ill. / Glenbrook South) leading 1-6, 7-5, 5-2.

“I was really proud of Jenna’s effort at No. 5 singles,” said Burns. “She had a really rough first set and battled back against an excellent player who made a lot of balls and made you work to win points. It’s too bad she didn’t get to finish, but she was 5-2 up in the third set and two points away from winning when the match got clinched.”

The Huskies consolation match on Wednesday morning will be based on weather conditions. Schedule updates will be made on the team’s social media pages and team website.

Final Results