DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University men's tennis team earned its 20th victory of the season as it downed Toledo, 6-1, on Friday afternoon (April 16) at DeKalb High School. The Huskies improved to 20-2 overall, 6-1 in the Mid-American Conference, as NIU clinched just its second 20-win season since 1989. 

"We did our job today," said NIU head coach Patrick Fisher. "I'm really happy with how aggressive we played in doubles and then getting off to great start in singles. We never gave them a chance to get into the match. Sunday with Ball State is going to be a good one."

The Huskies won the doubles with victories at number one and three. Oliver Valentinsson and Kristopher Ortega won their 16th match of the season at number three, topping Wojciech Szczesny and Krzysztof Wetoszka, 6-2. At number one, Bor Schweiger Muzar and Mikael Vollbach won for the 11th time this season, 6-3, over Adam Kovac and Thawin Suksathaporn. 

Ortega dropped just two games in his singles match, downing Cole Shoults, 6-0, 6-2 at number two. NIU clinched the overall win as Vollbach and Victor Spolidorio scored identical, 6-0, 6-4 wins at number five and six, respectively. Vollbach improved to 19-0 with his victory at number five over Szczesny while Spolidorio's win at number six came against Luis Kleinschnitz.

The Huskies earned two more wins with Valentinsson posting his 18th win of the season, 7-5, 7-5 over Kovac at number four. Muzar outlasted Suksathaporn at number one, 7-6, 1-6, 10-5, in the only three set match of the afternoon. 

NIU will return to action on Sunday, April 18, when they host Ball State at DeKalb High School. The match will be the second half of a doubleheader as it follows the NIU women's tennis match against Eastern Michigan, scheduled for 11:30 a.m. 


NIU 6, Toledo 1

Singles 
1. Bor Schweiger Muzar (NIU) def. Thawin Suksathaporn (UT) 7-6, 1-6, 10-5
2. Kristopher Ortega (NIU) def. Cole Shoults (UT) 6-0, 6-2
3. Krzysztof Wetoszka (UT) def. Mikko Malinen (NIU) 6-2, 6-1
4. Oliver Valentinsson (NIU) def. Adam Kovac (UT) 7-5, 7-5
5. Mikael Vollbach (NIU) def. Wojciech Szczesny (UT) 6-0, 6-4
6. Victor Spolidorio (NIU) def. Luis Kleinschnitz (UT) 6-0, 6-4

Doubles 
1. Bor Schweiger Muzar/Mikael Vollbach (NIU) def. Adam Kovac/Thawin Suksathaporn (UT) 6-3
2. Victor Spolidorio/Mikko Malinen (NIU) vs. Cole Shoults/Filip Zupancic (UT) 3-4, unfinished
3. Oliver Valentinsson/Kristopher Ortega (NIU) def. Wojciech Szczesny/Krzysztof Wetoszka (UT) 6-2