NIU Sweeps Sunday Doubleheader, Horne and Ninova Reach Career Milestones

Horne Joins 100-Win Club, Ninova Becomes Program Singles Wins Leader

Scott Walstrom, NIU

Women's Tennis | March 8

DeKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University women's tennis team downed UIC and Wisconsin-Whitewater at home on Sunday. The Huskies have completed their non-conference schedule with a 14-3 record.

Two seniors etched their names in the record book in the wins. Senior Jenna Horne earned her 100th combined career win while fellow senior Nataly Ninova became the program's all-time singles wins leader with 90 career victories.

Horne becomes the 19th player in program history to record at least 100 combined career wins and now has 101. Ninova ranks second in program history with 158 combined career wins, just five behind Nelle Youel (2011-15, 163) and ranks fourth all-time in doubles victories (68).

Against UIC, the Huskies won the doubles point with Malika Kabdesh / Ninova taking a 6-2 win at No. 1 and Irmak Budak / Horne sweeping 6-0 at No. 3.

In singles, Budak (Istanbul, Turkey / SAJEV) defeated Edit Cosmo 6-3, 6-2 at No. 1, followed by Lucia Yecora (Seville, Spain / IES V Centenario School) winning 7-6 (7-3), 6-2 from the three spot. Theodora Kousiou (Thessaloniki, Greece / Aristotelio College) clinched with a three-set victory, winning 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Rebeca Garcia Miralles (Castellón, Spain / IES Sos Baynat) and Horne rounded out the match with wins at No. 5 and No. 6.

In the evening match against Wisconsin-Whitewater, NIU swept all three courts in doubles.

Senior Isabella Righi (Palma de Mallorca, Spain / IES Centre de Tecnificacio Esportiva IB) recorded a 6-1, 6-0 win at No. 4 and was shortly followed by Ninova's historic win. Ninova downed Gracie Ha 6-3, 6-1 at No. 2, taking the top spot in all-time singles wins for NIU.

Garcia Miralles posted another win and extended her winning streak to 10 matches while Budak recorded her second win of the day No. 1.

NIU closed the day with a pair of freshman securing victories in Kabdesh (Valencia, Spain / Akbulak 1-Astana Physical Technical Lyceum) and Sophia Shlyakhta (Vernon Hills, Ill. / Stevenson).

Players Mentioned

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