DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University men's tennis team suffered a 5-2 setback against Omaha on Wednesday afternoon at Chick Evans Field House. Four of the six singles matches went three sets as the Huskies fell to 8-6 on the season, Omaha improved to 8-12 overall. 

The visitors opened the afternoon by taking the doubles point. Oliver Valentinsson and Kristopher Ortega scored a 6-3 win at number two for NIU over Ethan Henry and Hugo Piles Ballester but the Mavericks took wins at one and three to earn the early advantage. 

In singles, the first two matches to finish were won by Omaha as Matt Hulme claimed a narrow, 7-6, 7-6 win against Ortega and Mikhail Korkunov earned a three-set win, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6, at number three. 

NIU won the next two matches as Mikko Malinen held off Ballester in three sets, 6-2, 2-6, 6-4, at number four. Valentinsson outlasted Todd Chen at number two, 6-4, 6-7, 6-2, to cut the Omaha lead to 3-2. 

Omaha clinched the overall victory with a retirement at number six. Victor Sklenka then closed out the contest with a 10-point third set win at number five, 6-7, 6-1, 10-5. 

The Huskies will return to conference action on Saturday, March 26, when they travel to Kalamazoo, Mich., to face Western Michigan. 


NIU 5, Omaha 2

Singles
1. Matt Hulme (OMAHA) def. Kristopher Ortega (NIU) 7-6, 7-6
2. Oliver Valentinsson (NIU) def. Todd Chen (OMAHA) 6-4, 6-7, 6-2
3. Mikhail Korkunov (OMAHA) def. Mikael Vollbach (NIU) 6-3, 3-6, 7-6
4. Mikko Malinen (NIU) def. Hugo Piles Ballester (OMAHA) 6-2, 2-6, 6-4
5. Victor Sklenka (OMAHA) def. Christopher Knutson (NIU) 6-7, 6-1, 10-5
6. Alvaro Quintana (OMAHA) def. Luke VanDonslear (NIU) 5-0, retired

Doubles
1. Matt Hulme/Mikhail Korkunov (OMAHA) def. Mikko Malinen/Mikael Vollbach (NIU) 6-2
2. Oliver Valentinsson/Kristopher Ortega (NIU) def. Ethan Henry/Hugo Piles Ballester (OMAHA) 6-3
3. Victor Sklenka/Todd Chen (OMAHA) def. Luke VanDonslear/Christopher Knutson (NIU) 6-4