DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University men’s tennis team hosts a trio of matches this weekend as Southern Illinois and Chicago State visit the Huskies on Friday, Feb. 5, and NIU welcomes Saint Louis on Saturday, Feb. 6. All three matches this weekend will be held at Boylan Tennis Center in Rockford, Ill.

“We are looking forward to another weekend and more chances for our guys to get needed experience,” said NIU head coach Patrick Fisher. “I’m not sure right now who will be available, but no matter what we will have high expectations. We are hoping to improve our energy in doubles, particularly at the start, and for our lower lineup guys to play at a higher level because we are going to need them.”

The Huskies enter play this weekend with a 3-2 overall record after splitting a pair of matches last weekend against UIC and Eastern Illinois. Sophomore Georg Lundkvist (Linkoping, Sweden/Lindkopings Kommun) continued his strong start last weekend, winning both of his singles matches to improve to 5-0, and 10-1 including fall action.

Sophomore Austin Russell (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield South) saw his first action of the dual match season last weekend, splitting a pair of singles matches.

Southern Illinois brings a 2-1 record to Rockford; the Salukis opened the season with a loss to Tennessee before beating Eastern Kentucky and Mercer. Last season SIU posted a 6-16 mark, but did knock off the Huskies, 4-3, on March 21, 2015, in Carbondale.

Chicago State is still looking for its first victory of the season, having dropped matches to IUPUI, Northwestern, Illinois State and the University of Chicago. The Huskies and Cougars have not met since Jan. 24, 2014, when NIU posted a 6-1 victory over Chicago State.

Saint Louis brings a perfect 4-0 record into the weekend. The Huskies and Billikens met in Saint Louis last season with NIU claiming a 7-0 road victory (Feb. 28, 2015).

NIU will continue its 13-match home stretch next weekend as the Huskies host Illinois State and Nebraska-Omaha on Friday, Feb. 12, and Cleveland State on Sunday, Feb. 14.