DEKALB, Ill. -- The Northern Illinois University men's tennis team opened the season with a pair of victories, topping both Youngstown State and North Dakota, 6-1, on Saturday (Jan. 30) at Chick Evans Field House.

"It was an awesome day for the Huskies," said NIU head coach Patrick Fisher. "After almost a year, we finally got a chance to play and we know that we are lucky to have every opportunity that we get right now. With that being said, we dominated today, I was super proud of how our guys played. These guys were just relentless all day today and I'm excited to finish what we started on Monday."

In the opening match of the day Youngstown State, the Huskies swept the three doubles matches with Oliver Valentinsson and Kristopher Ortega scoring a 6-3 win at number three while Mikko Malinen and Victor Spolidorio at number one, as well as Bor Schweiger Muzar and Mikael Vollbach at number two, each scored 6-4 victories.

In singles against the Penguins, a trio of Huskies won in straight sets with Vollbach dropping just four games in a 6-4, 6-0 win at number six. Ortega scored a 6-4, 7-6 win over Laurentiu Mandocescu at number two and Spolidorio was a 6-2, 6-4 winner over Erik Gran at number four. The Huskies also had a pair of three set winners as Malinen came from behind to win 6-7, 6-2, 6-4 at number three and Valentinsson also came back from dropping the first set to win, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1.

NIU swept the doubles again in the second match of the day against North Dakota. The Huskies dropped just three games combined at two and three as Muzar and Vollbach won 6-2 at number two while Valentinsson and Ortega had a 6-1 victory at number three. At number one, Malinen and Spolidorio outlasted Lucas Percy and Cian McDonnell to win, 7-6.

The Huskies won five singles matches in straight sets against North Dakota, with Ortega dropping just two games at number one in a 6-1, 6-1 win. Valentinsson was a 6-1, 6-4 winner at number two and Armin Koschtojan got his first singles win, 6-2, 6-2, at number six. Vollbach outlasted McDonnell, 7-5, 7-6, at number four while Spolidorio also claimed a narrow, 7-6, 7-6, win over Gerhard Sullwald at number two.

The Huskies will return to action on Monday, February 1, as the Huskies host North Dakota at Chick Evans Field House.

NIU 6, Youngstown State 1

Singles
1: Vasilis Vardakis (YSU) def. Bor Schweiger Muzar (NIU) 6-4, 4-6, 6-2
2: Kristopher Ortega (NIU) def. Laurentiu Mandocescu (YSU) 6-4, 7-6(4)
3: Mikko Malinen (NIU) def. Joao Garretto (YSU) 6-7, 6-2, 6-4
4: Victor Spolidorio (NIU) def. Erik Gran (YSU) 6-2, 6-4
5: Oliver Valentinsson (NIU) def. David Alvarez Moreno (YSU) 4-6, 6-2, 6-1
6: Mikael Vollbach (NIU) def. Asier Pena Ibanez (YSU) 6-4, 6-0

Doubles
1: Mikko Malinen/Victor Spolidorio (NIU) def. Vasilis Vardakis/Will Everett (YSU) 6-4
2: Bor Schweiger Muzar/Mikael Vollbach (NIU) def. Joao Garretto/David Alvarez Moreno (YSU) 6-4
3: Oliver Valentinsson/Kristopher Ortega (NIU) def. Erik Gran/Laurentiu Mandocescu (YSU) 6-3

NIU 6, North Dakota 1

Singles
1: Kristopher Ortega (NIU) def. Johnatan Parat (UND) 6-1, 6-1
2: Victor Spolidorio (NIU) def. Gerhard Sullwald (UND) 7-6, 7-6
3: Oliver Valentinsson (NIU) def. Lucas Percy (UND) 6-1, 6-4
4: Mikael Vollbach (NIU) def. Cian McDonnell (UND) 7-5, 7-6
5: Edmond Aynedjian (UND) def. Luke VanDonslear (NIU) 6-3, 3-6, 6-0
6: Armin Koschtojan (NIU) def. Petro Alex (UND), 6-2, 6-2

Doubles
1: Mikko Malinen/Victor Spolidorio (NIU) def. Lucas Percy/Cian McDonnell (UND) 7-6
2: Bor Schweiger Muzar/Mikael Vollbach (NIU) def. Gerhard Sullwald/Johnatan Parat (UND) 6-2
3: Oliver Valentinsson/Kristopher Ortega (NIU) def. Petro Alex/Edmond Aynedjian (UND) 6-1