NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Northern Illinois University men's tennis team opened its two-match swing in the State of Tennessee with a 4-1 setback against Tennessee State on Thursday night (March 2). Oliver Valentinsson earned the lone point for the Huskies with a straight-sets victory in singles. 

"Tough loss," said NIU head coach Patrick Fisher. "Tennessee State is a good team; they beat us pretty good tonight and they were just tougher which is hard to accept. But we have to put it behind us, flip the page and get ourselves ready for our next opportunity on Saturday. I can't wait to get back out there."

NIU dropped the doubles point for just the second time this season, and the first time since the season opener against Drake (Jan. 21), as Jonasz Dziopak and Nicholas Adamec scored a 6-4 win for Tennessee State at number two and Taj Hibbert and Diego Britt-Alvarez earned a 6-3 win at number three.

In singles, Valentinsson picked up his seventh win of the season, and his fourth in a row, with a 6-3, 6-2 win at number two over Daniel Caraballo. Hibbert claimed a win in straight sets at number four for Tennessee State. 

The two other matches to finish both went three sets, with the Tigers winning both matches. Dziopak scored a 6-7, 6-1, 6-2 win over Cheng En Tsai at number one while Nil Moinet topped Mikael Vollbach, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2, at number three. 

NIU will return to action on Saturday afternoon, March 4, when the Huskies visit Lipscomb. First serve against the Bisons is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Tennessee State 4, NIU 1

Singles 
1. Jonasz Dziopak (TSU) def. Cheng En Tsai (NIU) 6-7, 6-1, 6-2
2. Oliver Valentinsson (NIU) def. Daniel Caraballo (TSU) 6-3, 6-2
3. Nil Moinet (TSU) def. Mikael Vollbach (NIU) 6-4, 4-6, 6-2
4. Taj Hibbert (TSU) def. Iker Gaztambide Arrastia (NIU) 6-4, 6-0
5. Diego Britt-Alvarez (TSU) vs. Armin Koschtojan (NIU) 6-3, unfinished
6. Nicholas Adamec (TSU) vs. Christopher Norlin (NIU) 4-5, unfinished

Doubles 
1. Pierre Copin/Nil Moinet (TSU) vs. Mikael Vollbach/Cheng En Tsai (NIU) 5-4, unfinished
2. Jonasz Dziopak/Nicholas Adamec (TSU) def. Armin Koschtojan/Christopher Knutson (NIU) 6-4
3. Taj Hibbert/Diego Britt-Alvarez (TSU) def. Oliver Valentinsson/Iker Gaztambide Arrastia (NIU) 6-3