DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University women's tennis team came away with a 4-3 victory over Northern Illinois on Saturday morning at the Roger Knapp Tennis Center.

The Huskies managed to steal the doubles point away from the Bulldogs as Drake a led on courts one and three but eventually fell 7-5 and 7-6, respectively.

The Bulldogs didn't allow the early setback affect them in singles as sophomore Summer Brills cruised to a 6-2, 6-0 win over Michelle Erasmus at No. 3 to tie it up at one. The Huskies earned a win on court six, but freshman Joely Lomas produced a 6-1, 7-5 victory over Evelyn Youel at No. 5 to make it 2-2. Sophomore Tess Herder gave Drake its first lead of the match by beating Abigail Dekkinga in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3 at No. 4. The Huskies tied the match up 3-3 with a win on court one.

The decisive match point came down to court two between DU's Maddie Johnson and NIU's Cristian Alvarez. Alvarez managed to take the first set 6-3, but Johnson bounced back and dominated the second set, winning 6-0. Johnson went on to break Alvarez's serve to clinch the match and come away with a 6-3 third set victory.

The Bulldogs won't return to action until Saturday, March 26 when they host Upper Iowa and Northern Iowa.

Drake 4, Northern Illinois 3
Mar 12, 2016 at Des Moines, Iowa (Roger Knapp Tennis Center) 

Singles competition

1. Osbuohien, Adey (NIU) def. Ante, Mariel (DU) 6-4, 6-1

2. Johnson, Maddie (DU) def. Alvarez, Cristina (NIU) 3-6, 6-0, 6-3

3. Brills, Summer (DU) def. Erasmus, Michelle (NIU) 6-2, 6-0

4. Herder, Tess (DU) def. Dekkinga, Abigail (NIU) 6-2, 6-3

5. Lomas, Joely (DU) def. Youel, Evelyn (NIU) 6-1, 7-5

6. Montgomerie, Meghan (NIU) def. Jaglarz, Mela (DU) 6-3, 6-2

 

Doubles competition

1. Osbuohien, Adey/Youel, Evelyn (NIU) def. Ante, Mariel/Herder, Tess (DU) 7-5

2. Johnson, Maddie/Lomas, Joely (DU) def. Erasmus, Michelle/Dekkinga, Abigail (NIU) 6-4

3. Alvarez, Cristina/Montgomerie, Meghan (NIU) def. Brills, Summer/Jaglarz, Mela (DU) 7-6

 

Match Notes

Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (3,6,5,4,1,2)