Jan. 25, 2008

DEKALB, Ill.-The Northern Illinois University women's tennis team opens the spring portion of its 2007-08 season in Wisconsin when the Huskies travel to Madison to face the Badgers Saturday.

"I am excited to get the season going. You can only practice so much," NIU head coach Ryun Ferrell said. "You have an idea on how things are going to go and you want to see if you are right."

The Huskies returned all but two from last year's squad. NIU has two seniors, Dora Delgadillo (San Luis Potosi, Mexico/Instituto Technologico de Estudios Superiores) and Jenny Edner (Stocksund, Sweden/Kamfors Gymnasiet). Edner posted a 10-12 singles record last season, while Delgadillo finished with a 6-14 mark. The two combined for a 12-10 doubles mark in 2006-07.

Ferrell was pleased with his team's performance in the fall and is eager to see how they'll perform in the spring.

"This group has worked very hard, Ferrell said. "The thing that they did very well in the fall was when they were playing poorly, they never quit. They found a way to win. I am looking for that attitude against Wisconsin."

The match between the Badgers and Huskies is set for 11 a.m. at Wisconsin's Nielson Tennis Stadium.