April 25, 2008

BUFFALO -The Northern Illinois University women's tennis team's 2007-08 campaign came to a close Friday when the Huskies lost their quarterfinals match to No. 1 seed Western Michigan, 4-0, at the 2008 MAC Women's Tennis Championships in Buffalo, N.Y.

The Huskies (3-13, 1-7) put up a battle in doubles play against the Broncos. Nao Umemura (Kasugi-shi Achi, Japan/Kardina International) and Brooke Forsberg (Moline, Ill./Moline) set the tone at No. 1 singles, falling to Western's team, 8-6. The doubles team of Lilian Asuaje (Monterrey, Mexico/American School Foundation) and Katie Friedlund (Parkville, Mo./Park Hill) were down 7-6 when Western Michigan's No. 3 doubles team defeated Jenny Edner (Stocksund, Sweden/Kramfors Tennis Gymnasiet) and Dora Delgadillo (San Ouis Potosi, Mexico/Instituto Technologico Co de Estudios Superiores), 8-4, to win the doubles point.

"Doubles was amazing. It was cool, because Western Michigan had to keep changing what they were doing," NIU head coach Ryun Ferrell said. "They (Western Michigan) were playing so well, but there wasn't much we could do. The girls did exactly what I wanted them to do in this tournament."

After winning the doubles point, the Broncos turned it up against NIU in singles play. WMU defeated Umemura, Asuaje and Edner in straight sets to win the match and end the Huskies' season.

No. 1 Western Michigan 4, No. 8 Northern Illinois 0

Singles

1. Kerstin Pahl (WMU) def. Nao Umemura (NIU), 6-0, 6-1

2. Priyanka Parekh (WMU) def. Lilian Asuaje (NIU), 6-0, 6-2

3. Noriko Saruta (WMU) led Katie Friedlund (NIU), 6-2, 3-3

4. Emily Dudzik (WMU) led Brooke Forsberg (NIU), 6-1, 4-3

5. Ashley Moccia (WMU) def. Jenny Edner (NIU), 6-0, 6-1

6. Amanda Moccia (WMU) led Doris Delgadillo (NIU), 6-0, 1-1

Doubles

1. Pahl/Parekh (WMU) def. Umemura/Forsberg (NIU), 8-6

2. Moccia/Saruta (WMU) led Asuaje/Friedlund (NIU), 7-6

3. Matsuto/Dudzik (WMU) def. Delgadillo/Edner (NIU), 8-4