DEKALB, Ill. – Western Michigan won the final match to finish in the third set as the Broncos narrowly defeated the Northern Illinois University men's tennis team, 4-3, on Saturday afternoon (March 25) at the Nelson Tennis Center at Chick Evans Field House. Western Michigan remained unbeaten in conference play (5-0) with the victory while NIU fell to 11-6 overall, 3-2 in the Mid-American Conference. 

"This was a very tough loss to take today," said NIU head coach Patrick Fisher. "We had the match on our racket and it slipped through our hands. It's hard to say we're moving in the right direction after a loss, but I believe we are. Our young kids are playing in some big-time pressure moments and it's a matter of time before we figure it out because we have shown it many times this season, we just need to learn how to do it over longer period of time. 

"I trust and believe in our guys, they never quit or give up, we will come back from this. All of our goals are still intact and not many teams this late in the season are competing for something. So, we flip the page, put it behind us and turn all of our attention to Binghamton and Buffalo, we're going forward."

For the 14th time this season, NIU won the doubles point to take a 1-0 lead. Armin Koschtojan and Oliver Valentinsson topped Arjun Honnappa and Anton Arzhankin, 6-2, at number two, while Mikael Vollbach and Cheng En Tsai were victorious, 6-4, at number one against Peter Kuszynski and Ferdinand Schlueter. 

The Huskies put the first point on the board in singles as Vollbach earned a straight sets victory over Kuszynski, 6-3, 7-6, at number three. 

Western Michigan evened the match at two points each as Benjamin George won at number one and Arzhankin scored a victory at number two. 

NIU was the first team to three points as Iker Gaztambide Arrastia outlasted Honnappa, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5, playing at number four. 

After Jackson Boone claimed a point for the Broncos at five, the overall match came down to number six where Fynn Lohse was able to come from behind to top Christopher Norlin, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, giving the visitors the 4-3 win. 

NIU will travel to the Empire State next weekend as the Huskies take on Binghamton on Friday, March 31, and Buffalo on Sunday, April 2. 

Western Michigan 4, Northern Illinois 3

Singles 
1. Benjamin George (WMU) def. Oliver Valentinsson (NIU) 7-5, 6-2
2. Anton Arzhankin (WMU) def. Cheng En Tsai (NIU) 6-4, 6-2
3. Mikael Vollbach (NIU) def. Peter Kuszynski (WMU) 6-3, 7-6
4. Iker Gaztambide Arrastia (NIU) def. Arjun Honnappa (WMU) 6-4, 3-6, 7-5
5. Jackson Boone (WMU) def. Armin Koschtojan (NIU) 6-4, 6-3
6. Fynn Lohse (WMU) def. Christopher Norlin (NIU) 3-6, 6-4, 6-3

Doubles 
1. Mikael Vollbach/Cheng En Tsai (NIU) def. Peter Kuszynski/Ferdinand Schlueter (WMU) 6-4
2. Armin Koschtojan/Oliver Valentinsson (NIU) def. Arjun Honnappa/Anton Arzhankin (WMU) 6-2
3. Christopher Norlin/Iker Gaztambide Arrastia (NIU) vs. Fynn Lohse/Benjamin George (WMU) 3-5, unfinished