TOLEDO, Ohio – Five of the six singles matches went to three sets as the Northern Illinois University men's tennis team earned a 4-3 victory at Toledo on Friday afternoon (March 17) at Shadow Valley Tennis Club. Mikael Vollbach, Iker Gaztambide Arrastia and Christopher Norlin scored singles wins as the Huskies improved to 11-4 on the season, 3-0 in Mid-American Conference play. 

"Wow, what a ball game," said NIU head coach Patrick Fisher. "This game was a straight-up street brawl and we were tougher today! We fought so hard and never quit, these kids just never quit. I'm so happy for them and to see how much this team has grown with all these new kids playing in high pressure situations and executing, I could not be prouder. It's over now, we had a good win, it's in the past, flip the page, move on it's on to Ball State Sunday and it will not be easy."

The Huskies took the doubles point as Vollbach and Cheng En Tsai claimed a 6-3 win, their 10th victory of the season, at number one. Norlin and Gaztambide Arrastia clinched the first point of the day for NIU as they outlasted Matias Olivero and Luis Kleinschnitz, 7-6, at number three. 

Vollbach won his singles match in straight sets, topping Adam Kovac, 6-2, 7-6, at number three to give the Huskies their second point of the afternoon. Vollbach improved to 10-2 in dual matches this season and extended his personal win streak to four matches. 

All five of the remaining singles matches went three sets. Toledo had victories at number one and five to tie the overall match at two points each. Norlin brought the Huskies within a point of victory as he closed out a come from behind win, 2-6, 6-1, 6-4, at number six over Kleinschnitz.

Gaztambide Arrastia clinched the overall win for the Huskies, also coming from behind, to claim a 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 triumph over Marko Galic to keep the Huskies perfect in conference play. The win for Gaztambide Arrastia was his 11th of the season, and his fourth-straight. 

NIU will be back in action on Sunday, March 19, when the Huskies visit Ball State. First serve against the Cardinals is scheduled for 12 p.m. CT. 

NIU 4, Toledo 3

Singles 
1. Pawit Sornlaksup (Toledo) def. Oliver Valentinsson (NIU) 6-4, 1-6, 6-2
2. Krzysztof Wetoszka (Toledo) def. Cheng En Tsai (NIU) 2-6, 6-4, 6-4
3. Mikael Vollbach (NIU) def. Adam Kovac (Toledo) 6-2, 7-6
4. Iker Gaztambide Arrastia (NIU) def. Marko Galic (Toledo) 4-6, 6-2, 7-6
5. Matias Olivero (Toledo) def. Armin Koschtojan (NIU) 6-4, 1-6, 6-3
6. Christopher Norlin (NIU) def. Luis Kleinschnitz (Toledo) 2-6, 6-1, 6-4

Doubles 
1. Mikael Vollbach/Cheng En Tsai (NIU) def. Pawit Sornlaksup/Krzysztof Wetoszka (Toledo) 6-3
2. Marko Galic/Adam Kovac (Toledo) def. Oliver Valentinsson/Armin Koschtojan (NIU) 6-4
3. Iker Gaztambide Arrastia/Christopher Norlin (NIU) def. Luis Kleinschnitz/Matias Olivero (Toledo) 7-6