OMAHA, Neb. -- The Northern Illinois University men's tennis team won its fourth-straight match to begin the season, defeating Creighton, 7-0, on Friday evening (Feb. 5). NIU's 4-0 start to the season is its best to begin a campaign since the 1988-89 season when the Huskies opened with six-straight victories. 

"We are so grateful we made it another week," said NIU head coach Patrick Fisher. "These guys know with this stuff going on they can pull the plug on us at any time, it showed in the way we dominated today and we never let up once we got on top of them. I'm really proud of our guys, tomorrow won't be easy, but we're excited to be playing tomorrow."

Creighton took the first match in doubles at number two, 6-4, before NIU rebounded to win the next two to earn the point. Victor Spolidorio and Mikko Malinen outlasted Stratton Brown and Joe Hoff at number one, 7-6, before Oliver Valentinsson and Kristopher Ortega finished a 7-5 victory at number three against Shin Inoue and Mac Mease to give the Huskies the point. 

Malinen claimed the first singles match to finish, dropping just a pair of games at number three in a 6-2, 6-0 win over Armando Gandini. Valentinsson then brought NIU within a point of the win as he topped Mease, 6-2, 6-3, at number five. 

Bor Schweiger Muzar then clinched the win for the Huskies as he finished off a 6-3, 6-2 win over Brown at number one. 

With the result already ensured, Mikael Vollbach defeated Hoff, 6-4, 6-3, at number six. Ortega then downed Matthew Lanahan at number two, 6-4, 6-2, and Spolidorio finished a clean sweep for the Huskies with a 6-3, 6-7, 10-3 win over Inoue at number four. 

NIU will remain on the road as the Huskies meet Omaha on Saturday, February 6. 

NIU 7, Creighton 0

Singles
1. Bor Schweiger Muzar (NIU) def. Stratton Brown (CU) 6-3, 6-2
2. Kristopher Ortega (NIU) def. Matthew Lanahan (CU) 6-4, 6-2
3. Mikko Malinen (NIU) def. Armando Gandini (CU) 6-2, 6-0
4. Victor Spolidorio (NIU) def. Shin Inoue (CU) 6-3, 6-7, 10-3
5. Oliver Valentinsson (NIU) def. Mac Mease (CU) 6-2, 6-3
6. Mikael Vollbach (NIU) def. Joe Hoff (CU) 6-4, 6-3

Doubles
1. Victor Spolidorio/Mikko Malinen (NIU) def. Stratton Brown/Joe Hoff (CU) 7-6 
2. Matthew Lanahan/Jose Oscar Diaz (CU) def. Bor Schweiger Muzar/Mikael Vollbach (NIU) 6-4
3. Oliver Valentinsson/Kristopher Ortega (NIU) def. Shin Inoue/Mac Mease (CU) 7-5