The Bulldogs closed out a three-game home stand on Saturday, Feb. 29, falling 3-4 to the Northern Illinois Huskies. Butler moves to 6-7 on the season as NIU presses to 9-5.

Doubles play showed as the Bulldogs' strength in the match-up, as Sara Linn/Logan White and Kendal Wilby/Emily Neal took the No. 2 and No. 3 flights, respectively. The No. 1 pair of Lauryn Padgett/Sarah Monesmith led 5-3 when the No. 2 match completed.

The Bulldogs entered singles play with the doubles point advantage. In the No. 4 flight, Nina Bertino retired at 2-2 in the first set due to injury, giving NIU their first match point by default.

Padgett delivered a sound straight-set victory (6-2, 6-2) in the No. 2 flight to put the Bulldogs back on top, 2-1. The Huskies evened the match with a win at the No. 3 spot, as Linn fell in straight sets.

White battled in the first set of the top flight for a 7-6 win, before dominating the second set, 6-1. Despite the 3-2 advantage heading into the final flights, NIU clinched the match with straight set wins in the No. 5 and No. 6 singles.

The Bulldogs will have a couple weeks off to regroup before heading to Florida for a pair of matches over spring break. Butler will face Hillsborough Community College in Tampa on Saturday, March 14, before visiting Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers on Sunday, March 15.
 
NIU 4, Butler 3
Doubles (order of finish: 3, 2)

1. Padgett/Monesmith led Dmitrieva/Peric, 5-3 (unfinished)
2. Linn/White def. Potsi/Naves, 6-3
3. Wilby/Neal def. Walker/Veyhle, 6-2

Singles (order of finish: 4, 2, 3, 1, 5, 6)

1. White (BU) def. Potsi, 7-6, 6-1
2. Padgett (BU) def. Peric, 6-2, 6-2
3. Naves (NIU) def. Linn, 6-4, 6-2
4. Walker (NIU) vs. Bertino (BU), 2-2 (BU retires, default to NIU)
5. Robinson (NIU) def. Wilby, 6-1, 6-4
6. Veyhle (NIU) def. McAuley, 7-6, 6-3