MILWAUKEE, Wis. – The Northern Illinois University men's tennis team claimed the doubles point before falling at Marquette on Wednesday night, 6-1, at Helfaer Tennis Stadium. With the setback, NIU falls to 11-6 on the season. 

"We could not have asked for a better start dominating doubles," said NIU head coach Patrick Fisher. "But Marquette stepped up and were the aggressors in singles. That ultimately turned things in their favor and, in our one window of opportunity to put some pressure on them in some our second sets, we didn't capitalize."

The Huskies took the early lead in the match, winning at first and third doubles to take a lead into singles play. Senior Eric Marbach (Naperville, Ill./Waubonsie Valley/University of Denver) and junior Georg Lundkvist (Linkoping, Sweden/Lindkopings Kommun) won for the 18th time this season, the 11th time in dual matches, taking the match at number one, 6-2. 

At third doubles, junior Louis-Philippe Hamel (Drummondville, Quebec, Canada) and junior Tom Hjertonsson (Gothenburg, Sweden/Akademi Båstad Gymnasium) claimed a 6-3 win. With the doubles point clinched for the Huskies, the match at number two was not finished. 

In singles, Marquette claimed all six matches to earn the victory. Five of the six matches finished in straight sets, Hjertonsson traded 7-6 sets with Nick Dykema at number four before falling in the third set tiebreaker. Marbach nearly forced a third set in his match at number three, dropping a 6-2, 7-6 decision to Greg Anderson. 

NIU will be off for the next 10 days before traveling to Western New York to open conference play against Buffalo (March 18) and Binghamton (March 19). 

Marquette 6, NIU 1

Singles 
1. Alvaro Verdu (MU) def. Georg Lundkvist (NIU) 6-3, 6-4
2. Luke Smrek (MU) def. Bor Schweiger Muzar (NIU) 6-4, 6-2
3. Greg Anderson (MU) def. Eric Marbach (NIU) 6-2, 7-6
4. Nick Dykema (MU) def. Tom Hjertonsson (NIU) 7-6, 6-7, 13-11
5. Kristiyan Trukov (MU) def. Carlos Manzanas (NIU) 6-1, 6-2
6. Brett Meyers (MU) def. Louis-Philippe Hamel (NIU) 6-3, 6-4

Doubles 
1. Eric Marbach/Georg Lundkvist (NIU) def. Nick Dykema/Alvaro Verdu (MU) 6-2
2. Mackenzie Stearns/Kristiyan Trukov (MU) vs. Carlos Manzanas/Bor Schweiger Muzar (NIU) 5-4, unfinished
3. Louis-Philippe Hamel/Tom Hjertonsson (NIU) def. Luke Smrek/Greg Anderson (MU) 6-3