KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- After rallying from down 3-0, the Northern Illinois University men's tennis team saw its comeback attempt come up short by the thinnest of margins, falling 4-3 to Western Michigan in the Mid-American Conference Tournament Championship on Sunday afternoon at the Sorenson Tennis Courts. 

With the dual tied, 3-3, Western Michigan's Peter Kuszynski and NIU freshman Mikko Malinen (Malmo, Sweden) went the distance, with Kuszynski outlasting Malinen in a third set tiebreaker, 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 (3). 

After Western Michigan had sprinted out to a 3-0 lead, each of the final four singles matches went to three sets, with NIU's comeback beginning at number two where junior Bor Schweiger Muzar (Crnomelj, Slovenia/Gimnm) topped Kennosuke Nouchi, 7-5, 2-6, 6-2. 

The Huskies were within a point after sophomore Victor Spolidorio (Peoria, Ill./Dunlap) completed a 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 win against Jack Randall at number six, trimming the Broncos lead to 3-2. 

Sophomore Kristopher Ortega (Homer Glen, Ill./Seton Home Study School) then came from down a set to pick up a 2-6, 7-6, 6-3 win against Matej Svjetlicic at number four as NIU brought the match even, 3-3. 

The conference championship came down to the match at number five where Malinen and Kuszynski needed a third set tiebreak to decide the title. The duo were even, 3-3, in the tiebreak but after the change of ends, Kuszynski won four consecutive points to win the match and give Western Michigan its second consecutive MAC Tournament crown. 

To open the match, Western Michigan claimed the doubles point with wins at number one and three. Jannik Opitz and Nouchi won the first match to finish, 6-1, at number one. At number three, Lenhard Haupt and Nick Schnobel earned a 6-4 victory to put the first point on the board for the Broncos. 

The match at number two doubles was unfinished with freshman David Pata (Bucharest, Romania/Emil Racovita) and Muzar tied with Kuszynski and Randall, 6-6. 

In the singles, Haupt won the first match to finish, earning a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Pata at number three. Opitz then gave the Broncos a third point, winning by an identical score of 6-3, 6-3 at number one against senior Eric Marbach (Naperville, Ill./Waubonsie Valley). 

Muzar and Spolidorio were named to the MAC All-Tournament Team, along with Haupt, Kuszynski, Marko Guzina (Ball State) and Hao Sheng Koay (Buffalo). 

With the win, Western Michigan improved to 18-8 this season and earns the MAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. NIU's season concludes with a 13-12 overall record. 


Western Michigan 4, NIU 3

Singles 
1. Jannik Opitz (WMU) def. Eric Marbach (NIU) 6-3, 6-3
2. Bor Schweiger Muzar (NIU) def. Kennosuke Nouchi (WMU) 7-5, 2-6, 6-2
3. Lenhard Haupt (WMU) def. David Pata (NIU) 6-3, 6-3
4. Kristopher Ortega (NIU) def. Matej Svjetlicic (WMU) 2-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3
5. Peter Kuszynski (WMU) def. Mikko Malinen (NIU) 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3)
6. Victor Spolidorio (NIU) def. Jack Randall (WMU) 6-3, 3-6, 6-1

Doubles 
1. Jannik Opitz/Kennosuke Nouchi (WMU) def. Mikko Malinen/Victor Spolidorio (NIU) 6-1
2. Peter Kuszynski/Jack Randall (WMU) vs. David Pata/Bor Schweiger Muzar (NIU) 6-6, unfinished
3. Lenhard Haupt/Nick Schnobel (WMU) def. Eric Marbach/Kristopher Ortega (NIU) 6-4