TOLEDO, Ohio – The Northern Illinois University men's tennis team picked up its 12th win of the season on Friday afternoon (March 12) as the Huskies downed Toledo, 6-1, in the conference opener. NIU won the doubles point and took five singles matches in straight sets to begin Mid-American Conference play with a victory. 

"I'm proud of the guys, once we (won the) doubles we jumped on Toledo in singles and never let up," said NIU head coach Patrick Fisher. "We are excited to play Ball State Sunday, they are great team, and we will have to be at our best."

NIU won the first point of the day with a pair of wins in doubles. Bor Schweiger Muzar and Mikael Vollbach paired for a 6-3 win at number one while Kristopher Ortega and Oliver Valentinsson teamed up for a 6-4 win at number three to give the Huskies the first point of the contest. 

In singles, Valentinsson dropped just one game while picking up his 11th singles win of the year, topping Wojciech Szezesny at number five, 6-1, 6-0. At number four, Victor Spolidorio lost just two games as he eased to a 6-1, 6-1 victory against Adam Kovac.

Playing at number one, Muzar earned a 6-2, 6-2 win over Cole Shoults while his doubles partner, Vollbach, extended his perfect singles record to 11-0 with a 6-2, 6-3 win against Max Skaer, playing at number six. Mikko Malinen also won in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2 against Thawin Suksathaporn at number three to help the Huskies secure the victory. 

NIU will remain on the road and travel to Muncie, Ind., on Sunday, March 14 to face Ball State. 

NIU 6, Toledo 1

Singles
1. Bor Schweiger Muzar (NIU) def. Cole Shoults (Toledo) 6-2, 6-2
2. Krzysztof Wetoszka (Toledo) def. Kristopher Ortega (NIU) 7-5, 6-4
3. Mikko Malinen (NIU) def. Thawin Suksathaporn (Toledo) 6-3, 6-2
4. Victor Spolidorio (NIU) def. Adam Kovac (Toledo) 6-1, 6-1
5. Oliver Valentinsson (NIU) def. Wojciech Szezesny (Toledo) 6-1, 6-0
6. Mikael Vollbach (NIU) def. Max Skaer (Toledo) 6-2, 6-3

Doubles
1. Bor Schweiger Muzar/Mikael Vollbach (NIU) def. Cole Shoults/Krzysztof Wetoszka (Toledo) 6-3
2. Mikko Malinen/Victor Spolidorio (NIU) led Adam Kovac/Filip Zupancic (Toledo) 6-5
3. Kristopher Ortega/Oliver Valentinsson (NIU) def. Luis Kleinschnitz/Max Skaer (Toledo) 6-4