YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Northern Illinois University men's tennis team dropped a narrow, 4-3 decision to James Madison on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 19) in a neutral site match at Youngstown State's YSU Indoor Tennis Center. With the setback, NIU falls to 6-2 while James Madison remains perfect at 6-0 on the season.  

"This was a weekend of one missed opportunity after another, we did a poor job of capitalizing and it cost us," said NIU head coach Patrick Fisher. "We had some guys that play in some situations that never experienced this before and it really cost us this weekend. You can't beat good teams with four or five guys and that's what happened this weekend."

The Huskies claimed the doubles point to begin the match. Mikko Malinen and Mikael Vollbach scored a 6-2 win at number one over Holden Koons and Youssef Sadek, while Armin Koschtojan and Luke VanDonslear teamed for a 6-4 victory against Mathieu Josserand and Edson Sanchez. 

In singles, Vollbach was a 6-3, 6-3 winner against Oscar Hernandez at number four and Oliver Valentinsson won a 6-4, 7-6 decision against William Karpinski at number two. 

The Dukes won on courts three, five and six however to even the overall match and James Madison finished off the comeback when Holden Koons completed a 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory at number one to give James Madison the one-point victory. 

NIU will now look ahead to conference play as the Huskies open Mid-American Conference action on Friday, March 11, when they host Toledo. 

James Madison 4, NIU 3

Singles 
1. Holden Koons (JMU) def. Kristopher Ortega (NIU) 2-6, 6-2, 6-3
2. Oliver Valentinsson (NIU) def. William Karpinski (JMU) 6-4, 7-6 (7-4)
3. Youssef Sadek (JMU) def. Mikko Malinen (NIU) 6-3, 6-0
4. Mikael Vollbach (NIU) def. Oscar Hernandez (JMU) 6-3, 6-3
5. Edson Sanchez (JMU) def. Armin Koschtojan (NIU) 6-1, 6-4
6. Mathieu Josserand (JMU) def. Luke VanDonslear (NIU) 6-4, 7-6 (7-3)

Doubles 
1. Mikko Malinen/Mikael Vollbach (NIU) def. Holden Koons/Youssef Sadek (JMU) 6-2
2. William Karpinski/Oscar Hernandez (JMU) vs. Kristopher Ortega/Oliver Valentinsson (NIU) 5-5, unfinished
3. Armin Koschtojan/Luke VanDonslear (NIU) def. Mathieu Josserand/Edson Sanchez (JMU) 6-4