CINCINNATI, Ohio – The Northern Illinois University men's tennis team fell to Xavier, 6-1, on Saturday afternoon. Senior Louis-Philippe Hamel (Drummondville, Quebec, Canada) picked up the lone point for the Huskies with a singles victory at number three. With the setback, the Huskies are now 8-4 on the season. 

The Musketeers took the first point of the match with a pair of doubles victories. Jack Dykema and Gabriel Araujo topped senior Georg Lundkvist (Linkoping, Sweden/Lindkopings Kommun) and sophomore Bor Schweiger Muzar (Crnomelj, Slovenia/Gimnm) at number one, 6-4, while Brett Winters and Alejandro Rodriguez-Vidal bettered freshman Kristopher Ortega (Homer Glen, Ill./Seton Home Study School) and junior Erich Schuette (Cleveland, Ohio/St. Ignatius) at number three, 6-3. 

In singles play, Hamel won his match in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4 over Jan Vrba. Xavier claimed straight-set wins at number two and six while the other three matches all went the distance. 

At number four, Araujo defeated Muzar, 6-4, 1-6, 6-4. Rodriguez-Vidal outlasted senior Tom Hjertonsson (Gothenburg, Sweden/Akademi Båstad Gymnasium), 6-4, 2-6, 6-4, at number four while Dykema was able to get past Ortega at number one, 7-6, 4-6, 11-9. 

NIU will conclude its weekend on Sunday, Feb. 25, when the Huskies visit Wright State. 

Xavier 6, NIU 1

Singles
1. Jack Dykema (XU) def. Kristopher Ortega (NIU) 7-6(4), 4-6, 11-9
2. Brett Winters (XU) def. Georg Lundkvist (NIU) 7-6, 6-3
3. Louis-Philippe Hamel (NIU) def. Jan Vrba (XU) 6-4, 6-4
4. Gabriel Araujo (XU) def.  Bor Schweiger Muzar (NIU) 6-4, 1-6, 6-4
5. Alejandro Rodriguez-Vidal (XU) def. Tom Hjertonsson (NIU) 6-4, 2-6, 6-4
6. Matthew Graft (XU) def. Erich Schuette (NIU) 6-2, 7-5
 
Doubles
1. Jack Dykema/Gabriel Araujo (XU) def. Bor Schweiger Muzar/Georg Lundkvist (NIU) 6-4
2. Matthew Graft/Conor LaFavre (XU) vs. Louis-Philippe Hamel/Tom Hjertonsson (NIU) 5-4, DNF
3. Brett Winters/Alejandro Rodriguez-Vidal (XU) def. Kristopher Ortega/Erich Schuette (NIU) 6-3