March 22, 2011

DEKALB, Ill. – Coming off a successful four-match spring break trip, the Northern Illinois men’s tennis team faces its last tune-up before beginning conference play tomorrow when the Huskies will take the short trip south to Peoria, Ill., to play Bradley at the David Markin Tennis Courts at 1 p.m. CT.

NIU (8-8) was in Orlando, Fla., last week, where the Huskies picked up four wins in two days. On March 14, Northern Illinois knocked off Siena 6-1 in the morning, before ousting Webber International 5-2 in the afternoon. The following day, the squad swept Oklahoma Baptist 7-0 in the morning and routed Youngstown State 6-1 in the afternoon. Maksym Bartiuk, Axel Lagerlof, Maximilian Phillips and Roman Turtygin each went 4-0 in singles play, while Maksym Lagutin and Bryant Poggensee-Wei were 2-2.

Lagerlof continues to lead the team in wins this season with a 12-4 singles mark, just ahead of Bartiuk’s 11-5 record. Just like NIU, Bradley (10-5) was on break last week and won two of its three weekday dual meets.

The Braves picked up a 6-1 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff and a 5-2 victory against Prairie View A&M, while dropping a 5-2 decision to No. 58 Southern Methodist. The young Bradley squad is led in wins by freshmen Arthur Romanet, who has compiled a 12-2 singles record playing No. 3, 4, 5 and 6.

The Braves will host Western Illinois following the dual meet with the Huskies.

--NIU--