BINGHAMTON, N.Y. – The Northern Illinois University men's tennis team improved to 12-6 overall, 4-2 in Mid-American Conference play, as the Huskies opened their two-match weekend swing through the State of New York with a 5-2 victory at Binghamton on Friday (March 31). With the win, NIU completed the season sweep of the Bearcats.

"I have to give our guys credit," said NIU head coach Patrick Fisher. "We battled through some tough conditions the last couple of days getting here and we just deal with whatever is thrown at us, give our best and don't make excuses. This is a tough swing, coming out to play the New York schools and Sunday is a huge game for us. We're looking forward to it, Buffalo gave us all we could handle first time around."

In the doubles, Cheng En Tsai and Mikael Vollbach dropped just one game in a 6-1 win at number one against Kyle Weekes and Ronin Lotlikar. NIU clinched the opening point as Christopher Norlin and Iker Gaztambide Arrastia finished off a 6-4 victory against Michael Pawlowicz and Dan Pergel at number three. 

Gaztambide Arrastia kept the momentum going for the Huskies as he put the first singles point on the board with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Weekes at number four. Oliver Valentinsson brought NIU within a point of the overall win with a 6-4, 6-3 triumph against Pawlowicz. 

Binghamton won the match at number five to earn a point before the Huskies won two of the three matches that went three sets to record the overall win. En Tsai secured the victory with his 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 win at number two against William Morais Binnie and Vollbach topped Lotlikar, 4-6, 7-5, 6-2, at number three. 

NIU will finish its weekend in New York State on Sunday, April 2, when the Huskies travel to Buffalo. First serve against the Bulls is slated for 10 a.m. CT. 

NIU 5, Binghamton 2 

Singles
1. Oliver Valentinsson (NIU) def. Michael Pawlowicz (BU) (BU), 6-4, 6-3
2. Cheng En Tsai (NIU) def. William Morais Binnie (BU), 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 
3. Mikael Vollbach (NIU) def. Ronin Lotlikar (BU), 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 
4. Iker Gaztambide Arrastia (NIU) def. Kyle Weekes (BU), 6-1, 6-3
5. Dan Pergel (BU) def. Armin Koschtojan (NIU), 6-3, 6-3
6. Zubin Omar (BU) def. Christopher Norlin (NIU), 2-6, 7-5, 6-4

Doubles
1. Cheng En Tsai/Mikael Vollbach (NIU) def. Kyle Weekes/Ronin Lotlikar (BU), 6-1 
2. William Morais Binnie/James McPherson (BU) led Armin Koschtojan/Oliver Valentinsson (NIU), 5-2 unfinished
3. Christopher Norlin/Iker Gaztambide Arrastia (NIU) def. Michael Pawlowicz/Dan Pergel (BU), 6-4