ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Northern Illinois University men's tennis team improved to 2-0 in the Mid-American Conference, 14-4 overall, with a 4-3 victory over Western Michigan on Friday afternoon at Boylan Tennis Center.

"We certainly weren't picked to win this match but the guys played hard and came ready to play today," said NIU head coach Patrick Fisher. "I thought we set the tone in doubles. We had some opportunities to close it out earlier but when you have a young team like we do you have to battle some nerves, and I think that is what happened today. We battled our nerves in some key moments but we worked through it and that was the difference.

"Western Michigan is a strong team, they have a lot of experience in a lot of spots and that is why they are picked to finish top of the league. Every match in conference is big and we are in good position but that doesn't guarantee anything and we still have a lot of work ahead of us."

In doubles play, the Huskies jumped out to a quick start as senior Frederic Cadieux (Verdun, Quebec, Canada/Ediuard-Montpetit) and freshman Louis-Philippe Hamel (Drummondville, Quebec, Canada) earned a 6-2 win over Stephen Payne and Matt Hamilton at number two.

The matches at one and three both went down to the wire with freshmen Kevin Daun (Vasteras, Sweden/Widenska Gymnasiet Idrottscollege) and Georg Lundkvist (Linkoping, Sweden/Lindkopings Kommun) outlasting Maik Steiner and Ruben Greiner at number one, 7-6, to clinch the point. The match at number three was not completed.

Western Michigan took the first two singles points, winning at number two and six, but the Huskies responded with victories at four and five to pull within a point of the victory.

Freshman Tom Hjertonsson (Gothenburg, Sweden/Akademi Båstad Gymnasium) was a 6-3, 6-3 winner over Hamilton at number four to earn his 17th victory of the season. Sophomore Carlos Manzanas (Madrid, Spain/IES Principe Felipe) then finished off a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Pablo Mora at number five, his 16th win of the year, to pull NIU within a point of the win.

The Huskies sealed the victory as Cadieux held off Jefta Kecic, 6-4, 7-5, at number one to give NIU the victory.

NIU will return to action on Saturday, April 4, when the Huskies travel to Muncie, Ind., to visit the Ball State Cardinals.

NIU 4, Western Michigan 3

Doubles
1. Kevin Daun/Georg Lundkvist (NIU) def. Maik Steiner/Ruben Greiner (WMU), 7-6 (4)
2. Frederic Cadieux/Louis-Philippe Hamel (NIU) def. Stephen Payne/Matt Hamilton (WMU), 6-2
3. Simon Formont/Tom Hjertonsson (NIU) vs. Jimmy Beckwith/Jefta Kecic (WMU), 6-6 (unfinished)

Singles
1. Frederic Cadieux (NIU) def. Jefta Kecic (WMU), 6-4, 7-5
2. Maik Steiner (WMU) def. Simon Formont (NIU), 6-3, 6-3
3. Ruben Greiner (WMU) def. Louis-Philippe Hamel (NIU), 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
4. Tom Hjertonsson (NIU) def. Matt Hamilton (WMU), 6-3, 6-3
5. Carlos Manzanas (NIU) def. Pablo Mora (WMU), 6-2, 6-4
6. Jimmy Beckwith (WMU) def. Georg Lundkvist (NIU), 6-4, 6-4