ROCKFORD, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University men’s tennis team dropped a tight 4-3 decision to Ball State on Saturday afternoon at Boylan Tennis Center. Less than two weeks after the Huskies earned a 4-3 decision in Muncie, the Cardinals turned the tables as NIU fell to 14-7 on the season, 2-2 in Mid-American Conference play.

“We had a lot of chances today and we let them all slip through our hands,” said NIU head coach Patrick Fisher. “But we can learn from this and be better for it.”

Sophomores Louis-Philippe Hamel (Drummondville, Quebec, Canada) and Tom Hjertonsson (Gothenburg, Sweden/Akademi Båstad Gymnasium) took the match at number three doubles, 6-3, over Matt Helm and Tom Carney, but the Cardinals claimed a pair of close decisions at one and two to take the point.

Andrew Stutz and Conner Andersen edged junior Carlos Manzanas (Madrid, Spain/IES Principe Felipe) and sophomore Austin Russell (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield South) at number one, 7-6, while Lucas Andersen and Patrick Downs slipped by Kevin Daun (Vasteras, Sweden/Widenska Gymnasiet Idrottscollege) and Georg Lundkvist (Linkoping, Sweden/Lindkopings Kommun) at two, 7-5.

In singles play, Lundkvist and Russell each won in straight sets for the Huskies. Lundkvist was a 6-1, 6-4 winner over Nemanja Guzina at number three while Russell claimed a 6-4, 6-3 decision at six over Marko Guzina. Ball State took wins in straight sets at one and two as the match came down to the final two matches at four and five.

At four, Hjertonsson outlasted Conner Andersen, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 but Downs won at five for Ball State, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, to give the Cardinals the 4-3 victory.

NIU will return to the court next Sunday, April 10, when the Huskies host Toledo.

Ball State 4, NIU 3

Doubles
1. Andrew Stutz/Conner Andersen (BSU) def. Carlos Manzanas/Austin Russell (NIU), 7-6
2. Lucas Andersen/Patrick Downs (BSU) def. Kevin Daun/Georg Lundkvist (NIU), 7-5
3. Louis-Philippe Hamel/Tom Hjertonsson (NIU) def. Matt Helm/Tom Carney (BSU), 6-3

Singles
1. Lucas Andersen (BSU) def. Carlos Manzanas (NIU), 7-6, 6-4
2. Andrew Stutz (BSU) def. Louis-Philippe Hamel (NIU), 6-4, 6-4
3. Georg Lundkvist (NIU) def. Nemanja Guzina (BSU), 6-1, 6-4
4. Tom Hjertonsson (NIU) def. Conner Andersen (BSU), 3-6, 6-4, 6-2
5. Patrick Downs (BSU) def. Kevin Daun (NIU), 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
6. Austin Russell (NIU) def. Marko Guzina (BSU), 6-4, 6-3