OMAHA, Neb. – The Northern Illinois University men's tennis team maintained its perfect record, moving to 5-0 on the season, with a 4-3 victory over Omaha on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 6), continuing its best start to a season since the 1988-89 campaign. 

"It was a 4-3 win, but it didn't have to be this close, we didn't deserve to win doubles we did," said NIU head coach Patrick Fisher. "Then in singles, we won the first set on five-of-six courts, which shows on our part we didn't finish like we should have. 

"I think this match exposed some real weaknesses we need to fix if we want to be the team we know we're capable being. With that being said, I have to mention Bor (Schweiger Muzar) and Mikael (Vollbach) they played awesome today and they were the difference today they carried us."

NIU outlasted Omaha in the doubles, winning a pair of matches, 7-6. The Mavericks won at number one, 6-3, but the Huskies took the point when Bor Schweiger Muzar and Mikael Vollbach topped Davis Lawley and Hugo Piles Ballester, 7-6, at number two while Oliver Valentinsson and Kristopher Ortega bettered Philip Olsson and Julian Kenzlers by the same score at number three. 

Vollbach continued his momentum from doubles with a comfortable 6-1, 6-2 win over Kenzlers at number six singles. Muzar dropped just five games in his 6-3, 6-2 victory at number one over Abdoul Ouattara and Mikko Malinen helped NIU clinch the victory with a 6-4, 7-5 win over Lawley at number three. 

The Huskies took the first set at number two and number five, but the Mavericks battled back to win both of those matches in three sets. Omaha also took the match at number four, 7-5, 6-0. 

NIU will look to continue its win streak to start the season as it travels to Marquette on Thursday, February 18. 

NIU 4, Omaha 3

Singles
1. Bor Schweiger Muzar (NIU) def. Abdoul Ouattara (Omaha) 6-3, 6-2
2. Matt Hulme (Omaha) def. Kristopher Ortega (NIU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
3. Mikko Malinen (NIU) def. Davis Lawley (Omaha) 6-4, 7-5
4. Hugo Piles Ballester (Omaha) def. Victor Spolidorio (NIU) 7-5, 6-0
5. Philip Olsson (Omaha) def. Oliver Valentinsson (NIU) 3-6, 6-1, 7-5
6. Mikael Vollbach (NIU) def. Julian Kenzlers (Omaha) 6-1, 6-2

Doubles
1. Matt Hulme/Abdoul Ouattara (Omaha) def. Victor Spolidorio/Mikko Malinen (NIU) 6-3
2. Bor Schweiger Muzar/Mikael Vollbach (NIU) def. Davis Lawley/Hugo Piles Ballester (Omaha) 7-6
3. Oliver Valentinsson/Kristopher Ortega (NIU) def. Philip Olsson/Julian Kenzlers (Omaha) 7-6