Feb. 27, 2011

Final Results

CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Northern Illinois men's tennis team fell 5-2 on Sunday at Southern Illinois. Maksym Bartiuk and Axel Lagerlof registered singles victories for the Huskies in the loss.

"It was a disappointing loss," said NIU head coach Patrick Fisher. "We had an opportunity to win the doubles point but we couldn't finish off the final match, then we came up short in singles."

The match started with a narrow doubles victory for the Salukis. SIU won the flight three doubles match 8-6, while Roman Turtygin and Lagerlof claimed an 8-6 victory at second doubles for the Huskies, meaning the doubles point would come down to the first flight match.

Southern Illinois claimed the doubles point, and the early 1-0 lead in the match, with a 9-8 victory by Adam Fabik and Brandon Florez over Maksym Lagutin and Bartiuk.

In singles, the Huskies put the first two points on the board as Lagerlof and Bartiuk claimed straight-sets victories. Lagerlof cruised to a 6-1, 6-1 victory in flight three over Jorge Cavero while Bartiuk also won easily, 6-2, 6-3 at flight two over Falk De Beenhouwer.

"Our top guys in singles have been playing really well," said Fisher. "But we need to have guys step up toward the bottom of our lineup, that is the challenge right now."

Southern Illinois then finished off wins at number one and five to pull within a point of the overall match victory. The Salukis then clinched the win with a victory in flight six.

Lagutin fought to a third set in the final match of the day at flight four. After falling 6-4 in the first set, Lagutin responded to take the second set, 6-3, before dropping the third to Brandon Florez, 6-2.

NIU will return to action next Friday, March 4, when the Huskies travel to Madison, Wis., to play Wisconsin. The match is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.