DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University men's tennis team claimed all 14 points as it swept a doubleheader of matches to open the dual meet season against Illinois Springfield on Sunday afternoon (Jan. 23) at Chick Evans Field House. NIU dominated the action in its first matches of the season, dropping just four total sets. 

"Today was a great start to the season, everyone played and won which was awesome, we got in some great work today," said NIU head coach Patrick Fisher. "We missed Christopher Knutson today, but he will be back next week. Overall, we only had a bad 10 minutes to start the day in doubles but after that we got better as the day went on which was great. I want to see how we do Tuesday against Eastern Illinois and UIC, I am really looking forward to doing it again."

In the first match of the day, Oliver Valentinsson and Kristopher Ortega earned a 6-4 win at number two doubles and Armin Koschtojan and Mikael Vollbach were victorious at number one, 6-1, to take the first point. 

Singles saw the Huskies win all six matches to complete the 7-0 sweep. Koschtojan lost just three games in a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Sebastian Jonsson at number four and Vollbach won by an identical score at number five over Matthew Lapsley. 

NIU also earned straight sets wins at number one, where Ortega topped Tomas Martinez, 6-4, 6-1, and at number three as Valentinsson scored a 6-4, 6-3 win over Nick Revin. 

In the second match of the day, the Huskies swept all three doubles matches to take the first point. Jacob Krefting and Luke VanDonslear lost just one game in their 6-1 victory over Philip Rydell and Ivan Esguerra at number three. 

Vollbach claimed a 6-3, 6-0 win at number three singles against Sebastian Jonsson while Ortega won at number two, 6-4, 6-0, over Menno Servaes. 

VanDonslear was victorious against Lapsley, 6-3, 6-2 at number five, Koschtojan scored a 6-4, 6-2 triumph over Rafa Rojas at four and Valentinsson bettered Martinez, 7-6, 6-3, at number one to round out the straight sets wins for NIU. 

NIU will host another doubleheader on Tuesday, Jan. 25, as the Huskies face Eastern Illinois at 10 a.m. and UIC at 6 p.m., both matches are scheduled for Chick Evans Field House in DeKalb. 

NIU 7, Illinois Springfield 0

Singles
1. Kristopher Ortega (NIU) def. Tomas Martinez (UIS), 6-4, 6-1
2. Mikko Malinen (NIU) def. Menno Servaes (UIS), 5-7, 7-5, 12-10
3. Oliver Valentinsson (NIU) def. Nick Revin (UIS), 6-4, 6-3
4. Armin Koschtojan (NIU) def. Sebastian Jonsson (UIS), 6-1, 6-2
5. Mikael Vollbach (NIU) def. Matthew Lapsley (UIS), 6-1, 6-2
6. Luke VanDonslear (NIU) def. Rafa Rojas (UIS), 6-3, 3-6, 14-12    

Doubles
1. Menno Servaes/Sebastian Jonsson (UIS) def. Victor Spolidorio/Mikko Malinen (NIU), 6-4    
2. Oliver Valentinsson/Kristopher Ortega (NIU) def. Tomas Martinez/Oscar Toro (UIS), 6-4
3. Armin Koschtojan/Mikael Vollbach (NIU) def. Nick Revin/Matthew Lapsley (UIS), 6-1

NIU 7, Illinois Springfield 0

Singles
1. Oliver Valentinsson (NIU) def. Tomas Martinez (UIS), 7-6, 6-3
2. Kristopher Ortega (NIU) def. Menno Servaes (UIS), 6-4, 6-0
3. Mikael Vollbach (NIU) def. Sebastian Jonsson (UIS), 6-3, 6-0
4. Armin Koschtojan (NIU) def. Rafa Rojas (UIS), 6-4, 6-2
5. Luke VanDonslear (NIU) def. Matthew Lapsley (UIS), 6-3, 6-2
6. Jacob Krefting (NIU) def. Ivan Esguerra (UIS), 4-6, 6-2, 10-5

Doubles
1. Oliver Valentinsson/Kristopher Ortega (NIU) def. Menno Servaes/Sebastian Jonsson (UIS), 6-4
2. Armin Koschtojan/Mikael Vollbach (NIU) def. Tomas Martinez/Oscar Toro (UIS), 6-4
3. Jacob Krefting/Luke VanDonslear (NIU) def. Philip Rydell/Ivan Esguerra (UIS), 6-1