ORLANDO, Fla. – Playing the first match of its spring break trip at the USTA National Tennis Center, the Northern Illinois University men's tennis team fell to Valparaiso, 5-2, on Saturday afternoon. 

In its first match since February 24, NIU (8-6) took the doubles point to begin the match. Freshman David Pata (Bucharest, Romania/Emil Racovita) and junior Bor Schweiger Muzar (Crnomelj, Slovenia/Gimnm) earned a 6-3 win at number two doubles while senior Eric Marbach (Naperville, Ill./Waubonsie Valley) and senior Erich Schuette (Cleveland, Ohio/St. Ignatius) were also victorious, 6-3, at number three as the Huskies took a 1-0 lead. 

Marbach also won his singles match, 6-1, 6-3, at number one over Chad Kissell, but it was the only singles victory for the Huskies. Freshman Mikko Malinen (Malmo, Sweden) fell in three sets, 3-6, 7-6, 10-7, at number four and the Crusaders won each of the other four singles matches in straight sets as Valparaiso improved to 10-3 on the season. 

The Huskies will return to action on Sunday, March 10, when they meet Youngstown State in Orlando. 

Valparaiso 5, NIU 2

Singles
1. Eric Marbach (NIU) def. Chad Kissell (Valpo), 6-1, 6-3
2. Brandon Ancona (Valpo) def. Bor Schweiger Muzar (NIU), 6-4, 6-4
3. Kweisi Kenyatte (Valpo) def. David Pata (NIU), 6-4, 6-3
4. Brian Pecyna (Valpo) def. Mikko Malinen (NIU), 3-6, 7-6, 10-7
5. Daniel Langston (Valpo) def. Shao-Yu Yu (NIU), 7-5, 6-2 
6. Gabriel Carvajal (Valpo) def. Victor Spolidorio (NIU), 6-4, 7-6

Doubles
1. Brandon Ancona/Kweisi Kenyatte (Valpo) def. Mikko Malinen/Victor Spolidorio (NIU), 6-2 
2. David Pata/Bor Schweiger Muzar (NIU) def. Chad Kissell/Brian Pecyna (Valpo), 6-3
3. Eric Marbach/Erich Schuette (NIU) def. Franklin Brozovich/Gabriel Carvajal (Valpo), 6-3