ROCKFORD, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University men’s tennis team claimed a 4-3 victory over Toledo on Sunday afternoon at Boylan Tennis Center to wrap up a season sweep of the Rockets. NIU earned four singles victories to improve to 15-7 overall, 3-2 in Mid-American Conference play.

“We knew coming in how important this game would be and while we didn't play well, we got the four points we needed,” said NIU head coach Patrick Fisher. “It's hard to talk about improving so late in the season, but we continue to struggle at certain spots and it's hard to gain confidence when you take one step forward and two steps back. Next week will be even bigger for us.”

Junior Carlos Manzanas (Madrid, Spain/IES Principe Felipe) and sophomore Austin Russell (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield South) were victorious, 6-2, over Stjepan Sisko and Luka Vitosevic at number one doubles, but the Rockets claimed wins at two and three to earn the point.

In singles play, the Huskies evened the match as two of the first three matches went to the Huskies. Sophomores Georg Lundkvist (Linkoping, Sweden/Lindkopings Kommun) and Louis-Philippe Hamel (Drummondville, Quebec, Canada) flipped positions in the lineup and the change resulted in straight-set wins for both players. Lundkvist was a 6-4, 6-2 winner over Vitosevic at two and Hamel earned a 6-3, 6-4 win over Vince Anzalone at three.

With the dual even, the result came down to the final three matches, all of which went to a third set. NIU clinched the victory as sophomore Tom Hjertonsson (Gothenburg, Sweden/Akademi Båstad Gymnasium) earned his 25th win of the year, 7-5, 1-6, 6-3 over Serjen Olmedo at four and sophomore Kevin Daun (Vasteras, Sweden/Widenska Gymnasiet Idrottscollege) won at number five, 7-6, 2-6, 6-4, over Danilo Pejovic.

The Huskies will return to action next Sunday, April 17, when they host Buffalo in the home finale. The match against the Bulls is scheduled for 11 a.m.

NIU 4, Toledo 3

Doubles
1. Carlos Manzanas/Austin Russell (NIU) def. Stjepan Sisko/Luka Vitosevic (Toledo), 6-2
2. Omar Espinosa/Danilo Pejovic (Toledo) def. Kevin Daun/Georg Lundkvist (NIU), 6-4
3. Vince Anzalone/Serjen Olmedo (Toledo) def. Louis-Philippe Hamel/Tom Hjertonsson (NIU), 6-4

Singles
1. Stjepan Sisko (Toledo) def. Carlos Manzanas (NIU), 6-1, 6-2
2. Georg Lundkvist (NIU) def. Luka Vitosevic (Toledo), 6-4, 6-2
3. Louis-Philippe Hamel (NIU) def. Vince Anzalone (Toledo), 6-3, 6-4
4. Tom Hjertonsson (NIU) def. Serjen Olmedo (Toledo), 7-5, 1-6, 6-3
5. Kevin Daun (NIU) def. Danilo Pejovic (Toledo), 7-6, 2-6, 6-4
6. Stephen Miller (Toledo) def. Austin Russell (NIU), 6-4, 3-6, 6-3