Thomas Wins First Match at Helm, Dukes Triumph at NIU

Sunday, January 21

DeKalb, Ill.

11 a.m. (10 a.m. CT)

James Madison University

Northern Illinois

1/21/2024 4:22:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Box Score

DEKALB, Ill. – James Madison overcame early adversity, winning a trio three-set singles matches en route to a 5-2 women's tennis victory at Northern Illinois on Sunday afternoon at Nelson Tennis Center.

It was the first win at the helm for Head Coach Tyson Thomas, as the Dukes improved to 2-1. The loss dropped the Huskies to 0-2.

After conceding the doubles point to NIU, the Dukes found themselves down a set on two of four courts before storming back to win on courts one through four to clinch the match. Three of those four matches went three sets, but JMU didn't concede more than three games in any of those decisive sets.

Daria Munteanu and Ines Oliveira went 2-0 on the day, teaming for a doubles victory and winning on courts two and three, respectively. Also claiming singles wins were Cate Broerman, Hope Moulin and Reka Matko.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Doubles Play

NIU gained the advantage on court one, as Erika Dimitriev and Nataly Ninova cruised to a 6-0 win over Broerman and Moulin.
JMU evened things up on court two, as Munteanu and Oliveira claimed a 6-2 win against Diana Lukyanova and Isabella Righi.
The Huskies rallied on court three for the doubles point, as Jenna Horne and Reagan Welch took a 7-5 decision from Matko and Alexandra Prudente.

Singles Play

JMU tied the match at 1-1 on court three, where Oliveira turned in a 6-3, 6-4 win versus Ninova.
The Dukes took a 2-1 match lead on court four, as Moulin overcame a sluggish start, dropping just five total games in the final two sets to upend Righi, 1-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Munteanu split the first two sets with Lukyanova before dominating the third on court two to register a 6-1, 3-6, 6-2 victory.
Broerman clinched the match for JMU on court one. After dropping a 7-1 tiebreak to fall in the first set, she bounced back for a 6-7 (1), 6-2, 6-3 triumph versus Dimitriev.
Matko extended the lead to 5-1 on court five, rolling to a 6-4, 6-0 win over Welch.
In the final match of the weekend, Horne rallied past Prudente in a super tiebreaker, winning the match on six by a 2-6, 6-4, 1-0 (6) score.

UP NEXT
JMU opens its home slate on Saturday, Jan. 27 when it hosts Howard at noon inside the East Campus Tennis Courts.