KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Northern Illinois University men’s tennis team fell to Western Michigan, the lone remaining unbeaten team in the Mid-American Conference, 7-0 on Friday afternoon. The setback drops the Huskies to 14-6 overall, 2-1 in conference play.

Western Michigan (15-4, 3-0 MAC) jumped out to a quick start as the Broncos took the doubles point, marking the first time in five matches that the Huskies had not taken the first point of a dual match. Junior Carlos Manzanas (Madrid, Spain/IES Principe Felipe) and sophomore Austin Russell (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield South) fell at number one, 6-2, to Ruben Greiner and Daniel Loebel. At number two, sophomores Kevin Daun (Vasteras, Sweden/Widenska Gymnasiet Idrottscollege) and Georg Lundkvist (Linkoping, Sweden/Lindkopings Kommun) dropped a 6-2 decision to Matt Hamilton and Maik Steiner.

In singles play, Daun was edged at number five, 7-6, 7-5, by Matej Svjetlicic. After falling a set behind at two and four, the Huskies rallied to take the second set. At two, sophomore Louis-Philippe Hamel (Drummondville, Quebec, Canada) fell to Hamilton, 6-4, 2-6, 10-7. Sophomore Tom Hjertonsson (Gothenburg, Sweden/Akademi Båstad Gymnasium) fell for the first time in eight singles matches at number four, 6-1, 4-6, 10-4, to Greiner.

The Broncos were victorious in straight sets in the other three singles matches to sweep the dual, 7-0.

NIU will return home next weekend for the first time since Feb. 20, when the Huskies host Ball State on Saturday, April 2, at 1:30 p.m.
 
Western Michigan 7, NIU 0

Doubles
1. Ruben Greiner/Daniel Loebel (WMU) def. Carlos Manzanas/Austin Russell (NIU) 6-2
2. Matt Hamilton/Maik Steiner (WMU) def. Kevin Daun/Georg Lundkvist (NIU) 6-2
3. Jimmy Beckwith/Jefta Kecic (WMU) vs. Louis-Philippe Hamel/Tom Hjertonsson (NIU) 3-4, unfinished

Singles
1. Jefta Kecic (WMU) def. Carlos Manzanas (NIU) 6-1, 6-1
2. Matt Hamilton (WMU) def. Louis-Philippe Hamel (NIU) 6-4, 2-6, 10-7
3. Maik Steiner (WMU) def. Georg Lundkvist (NIU) 6-2, 6-1
4. Ruben Greiner (WMU) def. Tom Hjertonsson (NIU) 6-1, 4-6, 10-4
5. Matej Svjetlicic (WMU) def. Kevin Daun (NIU) 7-6 (7-3), 7-5
6. Daniel Loebel (WMU) def. Austin Russell (NIU) 6-4, 6-2