DES MOINES, Iowa – Mikko Malinen (Malmo, Sweden) and Kristopher Ortega (Homer Glen, Ill.) each won a pair of singles matches as the Northern Illinois University men's tennis team competed in the Bulldog Cup, hosted by Drake. 

Malinen opened singles play on Friday (Oct. 15) with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Jona Gitschel of DePaul. He wrapped up singles play on Sunday (Oct. 17) by scoring a 6-2, 6-2 win against Jaydn Richardson of Wichita State. 

Ortega's first singles win of the weekend came on Saturday (Oct. 16) when he posted a 6-4, 6-2 victory against Sven Moser of DePaul. Ortega then made it two wins in a row with a 6-4, 6-3 triumph over Alex Richards of Wichita State. 

In doubles play, Ortega paired with Oliver Valentinsson (Malmo, Sweden) to record a perfect 2-0 mark for the weekend. The Huskie duo opened with an 8-1 win over Zach Grueber and Jaydn Richardson of Wichita State. NIU's tandem then scored an 8-4 win against Sven Moser and Matteo Iaquinto from DePaul. 

NIU will be back in action when it returns to Des Moines, Iowa, to participate in the Drake Cup, Oct. 29-31. 

Friday Singles
Oliver Johansson (Drake) def. Kristopher Ortega (NIU), 7-6 (12), 6-4
Jeremy Schifris (Drake) def. Mikael Vollbach (NIU), 6-2, 6-4
Oliver Valentinsson (NIU) def. Alex Richards (Wichita State), 1-6, 6-4, 10-7
Matt Clegg (Drake) def. Armin Koschtojan (NIU), 6-3, 6-4
Antonio Matteo Iaquinto (DePau) def. Victor Spolidorio (NIU), 3-6, 6-3, 12-10
Mikko Malinen (NIU) def. Jona Gitschel (DePaul), 6-3, 6-4
Zach Grueber (Wichita State) def. Christopher Knutson (NIU), 6-2, 5-7, 10-3

Saturday Morning Singles
Jeremy Schifris (Drake) def. Kristopher Ortega (NIU), 6-3, 6-4
Zach Grueber (Wichita State) def. Armin Koschtojan (NIU), 6-4, 3-6, 10-8
Matija Matic (Drake) def. Mikko Malinen (NIU), 6-1, 6-4
Matt Clegg (Drake) def. Mikael Vollbach (NIU), 7-5, 7-6 (5)
Evan Fragistas (Drake) def. Victor Spolidorio (NIU), 6-0, 6-4

Saturday Afternoon Singles
Oliver Johansson (Drake) def. Victor Spolidorio (NIU), 6-4, 6-2
Evan Fragistas (Drake) def. Oliver Valentinsson (NIU), 6-2, 4-6, 11-9
Markus Bolin (Drake) def. Mikael Vollbach (NIU), 6-2, 6-1
Jackie Lin (Wichita State) def. Mikko Malinen (NIU), 6-3, 6-3
Armin Koschtojan (NIU) def. Gabriel Sardo (Drake), 6-4, 6-4
Kristopher Ortega (NIU) def. Sven Moser (DePaul), 6-4, 6-2

Sunday Singles
Kristopher Ortega (NIU) def. Alex Richards (Wichita State), 6-4, 6-3
Mikko Malinen (NIU) def. Jaydn Richardson (Wichita State), 6-2, 6-2
Jackie Lin (Wichita State) def. Armin Koschtojan (NIU), 6-0, 7-5
Markus Bolin (Drake) def. Victor Spolidorio (NIU), 5-1, ret.
Oliver Johansson (Drake) def. Oliver Valentinsson (NIU), 6-3, 6-4

Friday Doubles
Oliver Johansson/Jeremy Schifris (Drake) def. Mikko Malinen/Victor Spolidorio (NIU), 8-6
Evan Fragistas/Olle Sonesson Lidholt (Drake) def. Armin Koschtojan/Mikael Vollbach (NIU), 8-5
Oliver Valentinsson/Kristopher Ortega (NIU) def. Zach Grueber/Jaydn Richardson (Wichita State), 8-1

Saturday Doubles
Oliver Valentinsson/Kristopher Ortega (NIU) def. Sven Moser/Matteo Iaquinto (DePaul), 8-4
Evan Fragistas/Olle Sonesson Lidholt (Drake) def. Mikko Malinen/Victor Spolidorio (NIU), 8-6
Armin Koschtojan/Mikael Vollbach (NIU) def. Markus Bolin/Matija Matic (Drake), 8-5

Sunday Doubles
Alex Richards/Jackie Lin (Wichita State) def. Mikko Malinen/Victor Spolidorio (NIU), 8-6
Matt Clegg/Gabriel Sardo (Drake) def. Armin Koschtojan/Mikael Vollbach (NIU), 8-7 (6)