DES MOINES, Iowa – The Northern Illinois University men's tennis team fell in its dual match opener to Drake, 4-1, on Saturday evening at the Roger Knapp Tennis Center. Christopher Norlin picked up his first dual match victory in the defeat. 

"Really proud of our guys tonight," said NIU head coach Patrick Fisher. "Drake is always good, and we were in a lot of matches tonight, it started to get tight in the end. We played with such spirit, class and we didn't back down. Really happy for (Christopher) Norlin, he earned his first dual match win. Tomorrow, we get to play Marquette it won't be easy, but we will be ready for tomorrow."

In the doubles, the Bulldogs took the match at number one before clinching the victory with a 6-4 win at number two from Jeremy Schifris and Evan Fragistas. 

Norlin scored a 6-2, 6-3 victory at number six in singles for the Huskies over Will Blevins. At number three, Mikael Vollbach dropped the first set, 6-2, but was in a second set tiebreak when the dual was called. Oliver Valentinsson's match at number one was also unfinished. 

Drake earned straight set victory at two, four and five to clinch the four points and the victory as they improved to 3-0 on the season. 

The Huskies will return to action on Sunday, Jan. 22, when they take on Marquette in a neutral site matchup in Des Moines beginning at 10 a.m. 

Drake 4, NIU 1

Singles
1. Jeremy Schifris (Drake) vs. Oliver Valentinsson (NIU) 7-5, 5-2 unfinished
2. Matija Matic (Drake) def. Cheng En Tsai (NIU) 6-3, 7-6 (4)
3. Oliver Johansson (Drake) vs. Mikael Vollbach (NIU) 6-2, 6-6 unfinished
4. Evan Fragistas (Drake) def. Iker Gaztambide Arrastia (NIU) 6-2, 6-3
5. Markus Bolin (Drake) def. Armin Koschtojan (NIU) 6-2, 6-4
6. Christopher Norlin (NIU) def. Will Blevins (Drake) 6-2, 6-3

Doubles
1. Matija Matic/Oliver Johansson (Drake) def. Mikael Vollbach/Cheng En Tsai (NIU) 6-0
2. Jeremy Schifris/Evan Fragistas (Drake) def. Oliver Valentinsson/Armin Koschtojan (NIU) 6-4
3. Reid Jarvis/Matthew Clegg (Drake) vs. Christopher Knutson/Christopher Norlin (NIU) 5-4 unfinished