DEKALB, Ill. -- After playing three in-state matchups last weekend, the Northern Illinois University men's tennis team will cross state lines to Indiana for a pair of matches this weekend. The Huskies will visit Butler on Friday, March 3, before meeting IUPUI in Indianapolis on Saturday, March 4. 

The Huskies come into play this weekend with a 10-4 overall record after going 1-2 in a trio of matches a week ago. Last weekend, the Huskies fell to 19th-ranked Illinois and Southern Illinois before closing with a 5-2 victory over Illinois State (Feb. 26). 

"We are looking to have a great weekend," said NIU head coach Patrick Fisher. "We want to continue to improve in doubles, to play aggressive and come out with great energy. We want to close out sets, that is something we have been focusing on the last couple of weeks. 

"We are looking forward to a good weekend, Butler is a good team, I think this is the best team they have had since I have been at NIU, so it will be a big match. We have always had good matches with them and we are excited for another one."

Junior Georg Lundkvist (Linkoping, Sweden/Lindkopings Kommun) and senior Eric Marbach (Naperville, Ill./Waubonsie Valley/University of Denver) went 2-1 in doubles play a week ago to improve to 16-9 overall on the season, 9-4 in dual matches. 

Junior Tom Hjertonsson (Gothenburg, Sweden/Akademi Båstad Gymnasium) and freshman Bor Schweiger Muzar (Crnomelj, Slovenia/Gimnm) each have eight singles victories in dual matches to lead the Huskies. 

Butler comes into the weekend with a 6-3 overall record, including a perfect 4-0 mark at home this season. The Bulldogs saw their five-match winning streak snapped last time out when they fell to Eastern Kentucky, 4-3. Last season, Butler edged NIU, 4-3, in Rockford. 

IUPUI brings a 5-8 record into play this weekend, the Jaguars will host Saint Louis on Friday before entertaining the Huskies on Saturday. IUPUI is looking to snap a three-match losing streak, which included a 5-0 setback against Purdue last timeout. 

Following this weekend's trip to Indianapolis, the Huskies will visit Marquette on Wednesday, March 8.