CHICAGO – The Northern Illinois University men's tennis team fell for the first time this season on Saturday evening (March 6) as it dropped a 4-2 decision to DePaul, snapping the Huskies 10-match winning streak to begin the season. Five of the six singles matches went to three sets in the narrow Blue Demon victory. 

"Too bad for us, we had our chances we didn't take it," said NIU head coach Patrick Fisher. "We need to keep improving and get ready for conference next week. This first half of the season is over, now it's a new season!"

NIU won the first doubles match to finish as Mikael Vollbach and Bor Schweiger Muzar earned a 6-2 victory at number two over Tripp Tuff and Fran Tonejc. DePaul won the match at number three and then claimed the first point with a win at number one. 

In singles, the Blue Demons won the first match completed at number three to take a 2-0 lead. NIU won the next two points as Oliver Valentinsson topped Luuk Wassenaar, 2-6, 6-0, 6-4 at number five and Vollbach bettered Tuff at number six, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 to pull the Huskies level at two points each. 

Boris Spanjaard then picked up a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 win at number two for DePaul, followed by a 3-6, 6-3, 5-7 win for Vito Tonejc at number one for the Blue Demons to clinch the victory. 

The Huskies will return to action on Wednesday, March 10, when they host Chicago State. 

DePaul 4, NIU 2

Singles
1. Vito Tonejc (DePaul) def. Bor Schweiger Muzar (NIU) 3-6, 6-3, 7-5
2. Boris Spanjaard (DePaul) def. Kristopher Ortega (NIU) 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
3. Christopher Casati (DePaul) def. Mikko Malinen (NIU) 6-3, 6-3
4. Victor Spolidorio (NIU) led Fran Tonejc (DePaul) 6-7, 6-4, 4-1 unfinished
5. Oliver Valentinsson (NIU) def. Luuk Wassenaar (DePaul) 2-6, 6-0, 6-4
6. Mikael Vollbach (NIU) def. Tripp Tuff (DePaul) 6-3, 5-7, 6-3

Doubles
1. Christopher Casati/Boris Spanjaard (DePaul) def. Mikko Malinen/Victor Spolidorio (NIU) 6-4
2. Mikael Vollbach/Bor Schweiger Muzar (NIU) def. Tripp Tuff/Fran Tonejc (DePaul) 6-2
3. Luuk Wassenaar/Vito Tonejc (DePaul) def. Kristopher Ortega/Oliver Valentinsson (NIU) 6-3