NIU women’s tennis finished the Marquette Invitational with a singles title and two runner-up finishes during the three-day tournament hosted by Marquette University in Milwaukee.

The Huskies earned 22 wins from Friday to Saturday. Freshman Paulina Masherava won Flight 5, while sophomore Rebeca Garcia Miralles and freshman Iben Storkaas finished runner-up Flight 1 and 2, individually.

“We had a lot of tight matches, and we had some players that we sat out for the weekend,” head coach Eric Burns said.

Burns said some players competed in higher flights than usual but remained competitive throughout the tournament.

“Overall, as a team, we looked very good,“ Burns said.

Junior Lucia Yecora also reached a career milestone, becoming the 20th player in the program’s history to join NIU’s 100-win club. Yecora finished the weekend with 102 combined career wins. 

“Really good in singles, really good in doubles,” Burns said. “She’s just consistent”.

FRIDAY

The Huskies opened singles competition Friday at the Marquette Invitational.

Garcia Miralles defeated University of Nebraska at Omaha Khayli Buckels 6-3, 6-7 (4), 10-4. Masherva overcame an opening-set loss to beat Marquette Aiyana Abbott 4-6, 7-5, 10-6.

Storkaas and sophomore Malika Kabdesh earned straight-set victories. Storkaas defeated University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee junior Nikola Nikolajeva 6-2, 6-4, while Kabdesh beat Western Illinois University fifth-year Emma Dell 6-1, 6-3.

Freshman Natalia Varela Herrera fell to Omaha Katelynn Kock 6-3, 6-3. Sophomore Sophia Shlyakhta lost to Western Illinois’ Chole Routier 7-6 (8), 6-3.

In doubles, Yecora and Varela Herrera led NIU with two wins, defeating Omaha sophomore Grace Greenwald and sophomore Corinne Barber 6-4, before earning a second victory over Marquette senior Emmerson White and freshman Lizzie Stuckslager, 7-5.

Shlyakhta and Garcia Miralles, along with Kabdesh and Masherava, each recovered from opening losses to win their second matches. Junior Theodora Kousiou and Storkaas added a 7-5 victory over Milwaukee freshman Lexie Hankel and Nikolajeva.

SATURDAY

The Huskies strengthened their double performances Saturday, winning seven of eight matches.

Kabdesh and Masherava won both matches, defeating Omaha Greenwald and Barber 6-4 before taking down Marquette Abbott and Kate Thorne 6-1.

Yecora and Varela Herrera beat Milwaukee Nikolajeva and Rubio 7-5, completing a 3-0 invite together. 

Storkaas and Yecora fell 6-2 to Milwaukee Natalia Castenada and Valentina Vallova before recovering to defeat Omaha Spiers and Rhegness 6-2.

Kousiou and Varela Herrera contributed a 7-5 victory over Marquette freshman Lea Holmlund and sophomore Maria Poon.

SINGLES FINISHES

Masherava followed her opening singles win with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Western Illinois junior Ananya Dhankhar. She completed her undefeated run by defeating Marquette Thorne 6-3, 6-2.

Burns said Masherava had been improving each week and entered the tournament after an illness caused her to miss a couple of practices.

Garcia Miralles overcame a 1-6 opening set-loss against Marquette White, taking the second set 6-2 and deciding tiebreak 10-8. Her run ended in the Flight 1 final, where Omaha’s Kock won both sets 6-4.

Burns credited Garcia Miralles’ consistency and decision-making for her success while competing in a higher flight this fall.

“She’s a smart player on the court”, Burns said.

Storkaas also rallied after losing the opening set, drafting Omaha Smith 3-6, 7-5, 10-7. She finished runner-up in Flight 2 after falling to Marquette Stuckslager 7-6 (4), 6-4 in the final.

Kabdesh lost to Milwaukee Vallova 6-0, 7-6 (7-5) before earning 6-0, 3-6, 11-9 victory over Milwaukee Hankel. Shlyakhta earned a comeback victory over Omaha Greenwald, while Varela Herrera lost her other two matches in deciding tiebreaks.

UP NEXT — The Huskies return home to host the NIU Huskie Indoor Invitational from Oct. 30 through Nov. 1 at the Nelson Tennis Center at Chick Evan Field House.

Burns said the Huskies will focus on taking advantage of offensive opportunities, being more aggressive on the second-serve returns and finishing volleys more consistently.

“So we’re looking for a little bit more aggressiveness as far as stepping into the court, going for the shots,” Burns said.