DEKALB, Ill. – For the second time in less than two weeks, the Northern Illinois University men's tennis team will face Ball State as the Huskies host the Cardinals on Saturday, March 31. 

NIU (12-6, 2-1 MAC) is coming off its first loss in league play as the Huskies fell at conference-leading Western Michigan last Friday (March 23), 6-1. Sophomore Bor Schweiger Muzar (Crnomelj, Slovenia/Gimnm) earned his 10th victory of the season against the Broncos and is a perfect 3-0 in MAC dual matches. 

Muzar is also one of four Huskies, along with seniors Louis-Philippe Hamel (Drummondville, Quebec, Canada) and Tom Hjertonsson (Gothenburg, Sweden/Akademi Båstad Gymnasium), as well as freshman Kristopher Ortega (Homer Glen, Ill./Seton Home Study School), to record 10-or-more dual match victories. 

The doubles tandem of senior Georg Lundkvist (Linkoping, Sweden/Lindkopings Kommun) and Muzar picked up its 10th victory of the season against Western Michigan, the most by any NIU duo this season. 

Ball State brings a 12-5 record into Saturday's match, including a 2-1 mark in league play. The Cardinals are coming off a 5-2 win over Toledo on March 24 after splitting with Binghamton and NIU on the opening weekend of conference action. Bryce Bonin leads Ball State in dual matches with an 11-3 mark, including four consecutive wins. 

The Huskies won the first meeting against the Cardinals, 5-2, on March 18. Ball State took the doubles points before NIU rallied to win five singles matches, including four in straight sets, to claim the victory. 

Following this Saturday's match, the Huskies will head back on the road as they visit Binghamton on Sunday, April 8.