ROCKFORD, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University men's tennis team began Mid-American Conference play with a 6-1 setback against Toledo on Friday afternoon (March 11) at the Boylan Tennis Center. Mikael Vollbach scored a singles win for the Huskies but NIU fell to 6-4 on the season while Toledo improved to 8-5.

"It was a day of missed opportunities, and our margin of error is so small, we had plenty of chances in doubles and we missed it," said NIU head coach Patrick Fisher. "In singles, we played with four players today pretty much and gave away two singles matches, that will never translate into winning. We have step up and we have really struggled with that over the past couple of weeks."

In doubles, the Rockets won all three matches by identical 6-4 scores to take the opening point of the day. 

Vollbach topped Cole Shoults at number four singles, 6-2, 6-3, but Toledo dropped just five total games in wins at five and six by Luka Jankovic and Marko Galic. The Rockets also earned a victory at number one where Pawit Sornlaksup scored a 6-1, 6-4 victory to help clinch the overall win for Toledo. 

Each of the matches at two and three went to a 10-point third set. Adam Kovac came from behind to top Oliver Valentinsson at number two, 3-6, 7-6, 10-7, while the Rockets also earned a comeback win at number three as Krzysztof Wetoszka outlasted Mikko Malinen, 6-7, 6-4, 10-6. 

NIU will return to Rockford's Boylan Tennis Center on Sunday afternoon, March 13, when it hosts Ball State. The match against the Cardinals is slated to begin at 2 p.m. 

Toledo 6, NIU 1

Singles 
1. Pawit Sornlaksup (TOLEDO) def. Kristopher Ortega (NIU) 6-1, 6-4
2. Adam Kovac (TOLEDO) def. Oliver Valentinsson (NIU) 3-6, 7-6, 10-7
3. Krzysztof Wetoszka (TOLEDO) def. Mikko Malinen (NIU) 6-7, 6-4, 10-6
4. Mikael Vollbach (NIU) def. Cole Shoults (TOLEDO) 6-2, 6-3
5. Luka Jankovic (TOLEDO) def. Armin Koschtojan (NIU) 6-1, 6-1
6. Marko Galic (TOLEDO) def. Luke VanDonslear (NIU) 6-2, 6-1

Doubles 
1. Marko Galic/Pawit Sornlaksup (TOLEDO) def. Mikko Malinen/Mikael Vollbach (NIU) 6-4
2. Cole Shoults/Krzysztof Wetoszka (TOLEDO) def. Kristopher Ortega/Oliver Valentinsson (NIU) 6-4
3. Adam Kovac/Luka Jankovic (TOLEDO) def. Luke VanDonslear/Armin Koschtojan (NIU) 6-4