ROCKFORD, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University men's tennis team picked up its eight win of the season on Sunday as the Huskies defeated IUPUI, 5-1, at Boylan Tennis Center. NIU won the doubles point and took victories at each of the top-five singles positions to beat the Jaguars. 

"It was a good day today," said NIU head coach Patrick Fisher. "I'm just really proud of our seniors leading the way, we've been playing short-handed due to some injuries, but our guys just stepped up and covered. We have some great depth and it showed today. Our focus now is just getting some guys back and building on what we accomplished today."

A pair of 6-3 doubles wins gave NIU (8-3) the first point of the day. Senior Georg Lundkvist (Linkoping, Sweden/Lindkopings Kommun) and sophomore Bor Schweiger Muzar (Crnomelj, Slovenia/Gimnm) topped Bradley Luetschwager and Grant Weaver at number one while seniors Louis-Philippe Hamel (Drummondville, Quebec, Canada) and Tom Hjertonsson (Gothenburg, Sweden/Akademi Båstad Gymnasium) defeated Ethan Mardanus-Budiono and Jac Newis.

In singles play, Lundkvist dropped just one game in a 6-0, 6-1 victory over Sean Bailey at number two. Freshman Kristopher Ortega (Homer Glen, Ill./Seton Home Study School) dropped just a pair of games as he beat Newis at number one, 6-2, 6-0. 

At number four, Muzar won a tight opening set, 7-6, over Eric Hollingsworth before taking the second set, 6-2. Hjertonsson was a winner by a nearly identical score at number five, 7-6, 6-3, over Luetschwager.

NIU's final singles victory came at number three where Hamel outlasted David Beasley, 6-3, 6-7, 10-7. 

Next weekend, the Huskies will travel to the State of Ohio for a pair of matches as NIU will visit Xavier on Saturday, Feb. 24, before meeting Wright State on Sunday, Feb. 25. 

NIU 6, IUPUI 1

Singles
1. Kristopher Ortega (NIU) def. Jac Newis (IUPUI), 6-2, 6-0
2. Georg Lundkvist (NIU) def. Sean Bailey (IUPUI), 6-0, 6-1
3. Louis-Philippe Hamel (NIU) def. David Beasley (IUPUI), 6-3, 6-7, 10-7
4. Bor Schweiger Muzar (NIU) def. Eric Hollingsworth (IUPUI), 7-6, 6-2
5. Tom Hjertonsson (NIU) def. Bradley Luetschwager (IUPUI), 7-6, 6-3
6. Ethan Mardanus-Budiono (IUPUI) def. Erich Schuette (NIU), 7-5, 6-2

Doubles
1. Georg Lundkvist/Bor Schweiger Muzar (NIU) def. Bradley Luetschwager/Grant Weaver (IUPUI), 6-3
2. Louis-Philippe Hamel/Tom Hjertonsson (NIU) def. Ethan Mardanus-Budiono/Jac Newis (IUPUI), 6-3
3. David Beasley/Grant Esposito (IUPUI) def. Erich Schuette/Kristopher Ortega (NIU), 6-3