DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University men's tennis team won its fifth-straight match and remained unbeaten in conference play as the Huskies downed Binghamton, 5-2, on Sunday afternoon (March 21) at DeKalb High School. With the win, the Huskies improved to 15-1 overall, 4-0 in Mid-American Conference matches. 

"I would have never guessed we would play three of our first four conference games outside," said NIU head coach Patrick Fisher. "I give Binghamton a lot of credit, they fought really hard today. With that said, I was happy how we played doubles and that is going to be really important this year for us."

The Huskies dropped just two games in three doubles matches, picking up the first point of the day. Bor Schweiger Muzar and Mikael Vollbach scored a 6-1 win at number one, improving to 8-2 as a pair this season. Mikko Malinen and Victor Spolidorio were victorious at number two by an identical 6-1 scoreline, also winning for the eighth time this season. 

At third doubles, Kristopher Ortega and Oliver Valentinsson improved to 13-2 with a 6-0 victory over Adi Ben Ari and Luke Karniewich.

In singles, Valentinsson moved to 14-1 on the year with a 6-0, 6-2 win over Diego Ramos at number four. Vollbach maintained his perfect singles mark with a 6-1, 6-1 triumph over Karniewich at number six, moving to 14-0 in singles play. 

At number five, Spolidorio was a comfortable, 6-2, 6-1 winner over Ben Ari. Ortega captured a 6-2, 6-4 win against Shourya Verma at number three. The Bearcats won the singles matches at number one and two. 

NIU will return to action on Wednesday, March 24, when the Huskies host Eastern Illinois in a doubleheader. 


NIU 5, Binghamton 2

Singles
1. Michael Pawlowicz (Binghamton) def. Bor Schweiger Muzar (NIU) 2-6, 7-5, 10-7
2. Dan Pergel (Binghamton) def. Mikko Malinen (NIU) 6-4, 6-4
3. Kristopher Ortega (NIU) def. Shourya Verma (Binghamton) 6-2, 6-4
4. Oliver Valentinsson (NIU) def. Diego Ramos (Binghamton) 6-0, 6-2
5. Victor Spolidorio (NIU) def. Adi Ben Ari (Binghamton) 6-2, 6-1
6. Mikael Vollbach (NIU) def. Luke Karniewich (Binghamton) 6-1, 6-1

Doubles
1. Bor Schweiger Muzar/Mikael Vollbach (NIU) def. Michael Pawlowicz/Shourya Verma (Binghamton) 6-1
2. Mikko Malinen/Victor Spolidorio (NIU) def. Dan Pergel/Diego Ramos (Binghamton) 6-1
3. Kristopher Ortega/Oliver Valentinsson (NIU) def. Adi Ben Ari/Luke Karniewich (Binghamton) 6-0