ORLANDO, Fla. - The Northern Illinois University men's tennis team opened its spring break trip to Florida with a 5-2 victory over Quinnipiac on Sunday afternoon. With the win the Huskies improved to 9-3 on the season.

"This was a good start to our trip and it was good to get outside for the first time," said NIU head coach Patrick Fisher. "Tomorrow will be a huge challenge playing Appalachian State and playing two matches in one day. We are really going to challenge our guys tomorrow and with this trip."

NIU claimed the doubles point, taking two of the three matches. The Huskies and Bobcats split the matches at one and two, each team earning an 8-6 victory. Senior Frederic Cadieux (Verdun, Quebec, Canada/Ediuard-Montpetit) and freshman Kevin Daun (Vasteras, Sweden/Widenska Gymnasiet Idrottscollege) were 8-6 winners at number one over Jonas Kuwert and Julian Rozenstein.

Junior Simon Formont (Orléans, France/Lycée Camille Claudel) and freshman Tom Hjertonsson (Gothenburg, Sweden/Akademi Båstad Gymnasium) proved to be the difference in doubles with an 8-3 win over Eric Ambrosio and Kyle Alper at number three.

In singles, Cadieux was a 7-6, 6-4 winner over Kuwert at number two for his 11th singles win of the season. Hjertonsson earned a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Ambrosio at number two for his 15th win of the year.

The Huskies clinched the match win with victories at five and six. At five, sophomore Carlos Manzanas (Madrid, Spain/IES Principe Felipe) bettered Luke Roser, 6-4, 6-2, and freshman Georg Lundkvist (Linkoping, Sweden/Lindkopings Kommun) outlasted Alper for a win at number six, 3-6, 6-0, 6-2

NIU will return to action on Monday, March 9, as the Huskies play a pair of matches. NIU will face Appalachian State at 10 a.m. CT, and Ferris State at 5 p.m. CT.

NIU 5, Quinnipiac 2

Doubles.
1. Frederic Cadieux/Kevin Daun (NIU) def. Jonas Kuwert/Julian Rozenstein (QU), 8-6
2. Kei Ezaka/Luke Roser (QU) def. Louis-Philippe Hamel/Georg Lundkvist (NIU), 8-6
3. Simon Formont/Tom Hjertonsson (NIU) def. Eric Ambrosio/Kyle Alper (QU), 8-3

Singles
1. Kei Ezaka (QU) def. Simon Formont (NIU), 6-7, 6-0, 6-0
2. Frederic Cadieux (NIU) def. Jonas Kuwert (QU), 7-6, 6-4
3. Tom Hjertonsson (NIU) def. Eric Ambrosio (QU), 6-2, 6-4
4. Julian Rozenstein (QU) def. Louis-Philippe Hamel (NIU), 6-2, 7-5
5. Carlos Manzanas (NIU) def. Luke Roser (QU), 6-4, 6-2
6. Georg Lundkvist (NIU) def. Kyle Alper (QU), 3-6, 6-0, 6-2