Helin Alvarez Earns Flight D Title at NIU Huskie Fall Invitational

The Chicago State women's tennis team competed in the NIU Huskie Fall Invitational at the Nelson Tennis Center at Chick Evans Field House in DeKalb, Illinois with the three-day competition ending Sunday with freshman Helin Alvarez making short work of Margaret Johnson of St. Thomas in the Flight D title match with Alvarez earning a 6-0, 6-0 victory in just under 50 minutes of play. Alvarez was dominant en route to the title dropping just four games in three matches featuring straight-set wins.

The Cougars suffered a heartbreaking loss in the the Women's Open Doubles Flight A Final where Ethel Li teamed with Alvarez and held serve and were leading 5-2 with two match points before Nataly Miroislovova and Erika Dimitriev rallied for a 7-5 win to earn the title.

"This was a great tournament for us," Chicago State head coach Jack Barton said. "First, I'm proud of Helin (Alvarez) dominating the tournament in singles with a championship along with her and Ethel (Li) making the doubles final.

"For the team, I couldn't be more proud of them with the hustle, desire and heart they showed on the court all three days. The character and culture of this team is very strong. Friday was a great start and set the tone for the weekend. NIU had our number Saturday but they had to work hard to beat us in several semifinal matches. I challenged them Saturday after the matches to be braver on the court and to challenge our opponents to build confidence on what we do. Sunday, they did just that. They hit a different gear and saw some success in the points they played."  

Katarina Dukic and Sofiya Sedovich advanced to the semifinals of Flight A singles but both lost in three-set battles against host Northern Illinois and both went to three sets against Huskies opponents on the invitational's final day, with Dukic earning a hard-fought victory.

"My captains (Katarina Dukic and Sofiya Sedovich) showed a lot of leadership qualities on the court," Barton said. "Between the two of them we only beat NIU one time in four opportunities but all four matches went three sets. They showed plenty of grit, determination and courage on the court and the team followed their lead.

"It was a great weekend for our team and now we get ready for our final test in Kalamazoo for the Super Challenge."

The next action for the women's tennis team is scheduled for November 10-12 at the Bronco Super Challenge host by Western Michigan at the Sorensen Courts/West Hills Athletic Club in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The competition is the last of the fall for the team.

Compete Chicago State results from the NIU Huskie Fall Invitational listed below.

NIU Huskie Fall Invitational
Nelson Tennis Center at
Chick Evans Field House
DeKalb, Illinois
October 27-29, 2023

Women's Open Doubles Flight A
East Quarterfinals (Championship)
Ethel Li/Helin Alvarez (Chicago State) def. Addison Brown/Charleigh Fay (Eastern Illinois), 6-2
Katarina Dukic/Sofiya Sedovich (Chicago State) def. Marthe Degeorges/Margaret Johnson (St. Thomas), Inj. Retirement 

Women's Open Doubles Flight A
East Semifinals (Championship)
Ethel Li/Helin Alvarez (Chicago State) def. Reagan Welch/Jenna Horne (Northern Illinois), 6-2
Erika Dimitriev/Nataly Miroslavova (Northern Illinois) def. Katarina Dukic/Sofiya Sedovich (Chicago State), 6-3 

Women's Open Doubles Flight A
East Finals (Championship)
Erika Dimitriev/Nataly Miroslavova (Northern Illinois) def. Ethel Li/Helin Alvarez (Chicago State), 7-5

Women's Open Doubles Flight A
PL Final (Consolation)
Katarina Dukic/Sofiya Sedovich (Chicago State) def. Reagan Welch/Jenna Horne (Northern Illinois), 7-6 (7-2)

Women's Open Doubles Flight B
East Semifinals (Championship)
Amina Taibi/Manuella Eloundou (Chicago State) def. Luisa Renovales/Jemma Booth (Eastern Illinois), 6-3
Brooklyn Ross/Anabel Aguilar (Lewis) def. Danina Hughes (Chicago State)/Emma Pilipovic-Kljajic (E. Ill.), 6-2

Women's Open Doubles Flight B
East Quarterfinals (Championship)
Brooklyn Ross/Anabel Aguilar (Lewis) def. Amina Taibi/Manuella Eloundou (Chicago State), 6-3

Women's Open Doubles Flight B
West Semifinals (Consolation)
Luisa Renovales/Jemma Booth (Eastern Illinois) def. Danina Hughes (Chicago State)/Emma Pilipovic-Kljajic (E. Ill.), 6-1

Women's Open Doubles Flight B
PL Final (Consolation)
Amina Taibi/Manuella Eloundou (Chicago State) def. Sreevally Medishetti/Benedetta Luccone (Lewis), 7-5

Extra Doubles Matches
Caroline Lindahl/Jannah Elnemr (St. Thomas) def. Danina Hughes (Chicago State)/Emma Pilipovic-Kljajic (E. Ill.), 6-3
Ethel Li/Helin Alvarez (Chicago State) def. Casey Smith/Sage Hills (Lewis), 6-2
Erika Dimitriev/Nataly Miroslavova (Northern Illinois) def. Amina Taibi/Manuella Eloundou (Chicago State), 6-1
Katarina Dukic/Sofiya Sedovich (Chicago State) def. Brooklyn Ross/Anabel Aguilar (Lewis), 7-5
Naisha Srivastav/Regina Talavera (St. Thomas) def. Danina Hughes (Chicago State)/Emma Pilipovic-Kljajic (E. Ill.), 6-1


Women's Open Singles Flight A
East Quarterfinals (Championship)
Katarina Dukic (Chicago State) def. Mather Degeorges (St. Thomas), 6-3, 6-2
Sofiya Sedovich (Chicago State) def. Casey Smith (Lewis), 3-6, 6-0, 10-5

East Semifinals (Championship)
Diana Lukyanova (Northern Illinois) def. Katarina Dukic (Chicago State), 2-6, 6-3, 11-9
Erika Dimitriev (Northern Illinois) def. Sofiya Sedovich (Chicago State), 7-5, 4-6, 10-7

Women's Open Singles Flight B
East Quarterfinals (Championship)
Ethel Li (Chicago State) def. Yinong Ma, Injury Default 
Brooklyn Ross (Lewis) def. Manuella Eloundou (Chicago State), 6-4, 3-6, 10-7

East Semifinals (Championship)
Isabella Righi (Northern Illinois) def. Ethel Li (Chicago State), 6-4, 6-1

West Semifinals (Consolation)
Manuella Eloundou (Chicago State) def. Addison Brown (Eastern Illinois), 6-4, 6-3 

West Final (Consolation)
Sreevally Medishetti (Lewis) def. Manuella Eloundou (Chicago State), 6-1, 7-6 (7-1)

Women's Open Singles Flight C
East Quarterfinals (Championship)
Amina Taibi (Chicago State) def.Caroline Lindahl (St. Thomas), 7-5, 7-5

East Semifinals (Championship)
Jenna Horne (Northern Illinois) def. Amina Taibi (Chicago State), 6-4, 6-3

Pl Finals (Consolation)
Amina Taibi (Chicago State) def. Naisha Srivastav (St. Thomas), 6-4, 6-4

Women's Open Singles Flight D
East Quarterfinals (Championship)
Helin Alvarez (Chicago State) def. Sage Hills (Lewis), 6-1, 6-1
Margaret Johnson (St. Thomas) def. Danina Hughes (Chicago State), 6-4, 7-5

East Semifinals (Championship)
Helin Alvarez (Chicago State) def. Luisa Renovales (Eastern Illinois), 6-2, 6-0

East Finals (Championship)
Helin Alvarez (Chicago State) def. Margaret Johnson (St. Thomas), 6-0, 6-0

West Final (Consolation)
Sreevally Medishetti (Lewis) def. Danina Hughes (Chicago State), 6-1, 6-1

Extra Singles Matches
Lukyanova (Northern Illinois) def. Sofiya Sedovich (Chicago State), 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 10-8
Ethel Li (Chicago State) def. Jenna Horne (Northern Illinois), 6-3, 2-6, 10-8
Katarina Dukic (Chicago State) def. Dimitriev (Northern Illinois), 4-6, 6-4, 10-8
Sage Hills (Lewis) def. Danina Hughes (Chicago State), 6-2, 6-0

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