BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Northern Illinois University men's tennis team pushed Buffalo to the limit but could not end the unbeaten conference season of the Bulls, falling 4-3 on Sunday afternoon in Buffalo. 

"We did everything right except win," said NIU head coach Patrick Fisher. "We got off to a great start winning doubles. In singles, we started off up a set and breaks on four courts serving you can't ask to be in a better position, but we couldn't finish. 

"Credit Buffalo, they are a really good team and they dug in and fought back. With that being said, we did wrap up a six-straight winning seasons, finishing in the top three or better in five of the last six seasons in MAC play. We look forward to playing for a MAC Championships next week in Kalamazoo."

NIU (13-11, 2-5 MAC) claimed the doubles points to start the day. Senior Eric Marbach (Naperville, Ill./Waubonsie Valley/University of Denver) and junior Georg Lundkvist (Linkoping, Sweden/Lindkopings Kommun) took the match at number one, 6-1, for their 22nd win of the season, their 15th in dual matches. Buffalo earned the win at number three before juniors Louis-Philippe Hamel (Drummondville, Quebec, Canada) and Tom Hjertonsson (Gothenburg, Sweden/Akademi Båstad Gymnasium) capped the doubles with a 6-4 win at number two, giving the Huskies the point. 

Buffalo (12-5, 7-0 MAC) won the first two singles matches to finish, earning victories at six and one, to take a 2-1 lead. Marbach got the first singles win for the Huskies as he topped Filip Grbic, 6-3, 7-6 (5), to bring NIU back even. 

With the overall match score tied, 2-2, each of the final three matches went to three sets as the result hung in the balance. Buffalo got its third point as Villhelm Fridell claimed a 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 win at number four and then the Bulls clinched the tie with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory at number two from Vidit Vaghela. NIU won the final match of the day as Hamel won a 3-6, 7-6 (12), 10-2 decision over Petr Vodak at number five. 

The Huskies will be the No. 4 seed at next weekend's MAC Tournament and will face Buffalo on Friday, April 28, in the semifinals at Western Michigan. 

Buffalo 4, NIU 3

Doubles
1. Eric Marbach/Georg Lundkvist (NIU) def. Hao Sheng Koay/Filip Grbic (UB), 6-1
2. Louis-Philippe Hamel/Tom Hjertonsson (NIU) def. Villhelm Fridell/Petr Vodak (UB), 6-4
3. Tony Miller/Ethan Nittolo (UB) def. Bor Schweiger Muzar/Carlos Manzanas (NIU), 6-2

Order of Finish: 1,3,2

Singles
1. Hao Sheng Koay (UB) def. Georg Lundkvist (NIU), 6-2, 6-2
2. Vidit Vaghela (UB) def. Bor Schweiger Muzar (NIU), 4-6, 6-3, 6-1
3. Eric Marbach (NIU) def. Filip Grbic (UB), 6-3, 7-6 (5)
4. Villhelm Fridell (UB) def. Tom Hjertonsson (NIU), 4-6, 6-2, 6-1
5. Louis-Philippe Hamel (NIU) def. Petr Vodak (UB), 2-6, 7-6 (12), 10-2
6. Ethan Nittolo (UB) def. Carlos Manzanas (NIU), 6-2, 6-4

Order of Finish: 6,1,3,4,2,5