BUFFALO, N.Y. – In a contest that came down to the final match to finish, the Northern Illinois University men's tennis team upended Buffalo, 4-3, on Sunday afternoon (March 20). The victory helped NIU improve to 8-5 on the season, 2-2 in Mid-American Conference play. 

The Huskies won the first doubles match to finish as Armin Koschtojan and Luke VanDonslear bettered Vasisht Cheruku and Daniils Snaiders at number three, 6-2. Buffalo edged the matches at one and two however as the Bulls earned the first point of the day. 

Buffalo then opened the singles with a victory at number one before Oliver Valentinsson put the first point on the board with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Finn MacNamara at number two. 

NIU then earned wins at number four, where Mikael Vollbach was a 6-4, 6-1 winner against Yu-Shiang Huang, and number five, as Koschtojan claimed a three-set, 6-2, 2-6, 7-6 triumph over Greg Hasting, to put the Huskies within a point of the overall win. 

Snaiders finished a three-set victory at number three to even the overall match at 3-3, but VanDonslear outlasted Ryan Thompson, 7-6, 6-7, 6-4, to finish the weekend sweep in New York for the Huskies. 

NIU will return to action on Wednesday, March 23, when the Huskies host Omaha. 

NIU 4, Buffalo 3

Singles
1. Cheng Tang (UB) def. Kristopher Ortega (NIU), 7-5, 6-2
2. Oliver Valentinsson (NIU) def. Finn MacNamara (UB), 6-3, 6-2
3. Daniils Snaiders (UB) def. Mikko Malinen (NIU), 6-2, 0-6, 6-3
4. Mikael Vollbach (NIU) def. Yu-Shiang Huang (UB), 6-4, 6-1
5. Armin Koschtojan (NIU) def. Greg Hasting (UB), 6-2, 2-6, 7-6
6. Luke VanDonslear (NIU) def. Ryan Thompson (UB), 7-6, 6-7, 6-4

Doubles
1. Yu-Shiang Huang/Cheng Tang (UB) def. Mikko Malinen/Mikael Vollbach (NIU), 7-5
2. Greg Hasting/Finn MacNamara (UB) def. Kristopher Ortega/Oliver Valentinsson (NIU), 7-6
3. Armin Koschtojan/Luke VanDonslear (NIU) def. Vasisht Cheruku/Daniils Snaiders (UB), 6-2