DEKALB, Ill. – Oliver Valentinsson recorded his 12th singles victory of the season on Senior Day, but the Northern Illinois University men's tennis team dropped a 5-2 decision to Ball State on Sunday afternoon (April 9). With the setback, NIU falls to 12-9 on the season, 4-5 in Mid-American Conference play, while Ball State improves to 11-9 overall, 3-5 in the league. 

The Huskies dropped just three games in two matches to take the doubles point. Mikael Vollbach and Cheng En Tsai earned their 14th victory of the season with a 6-1 win over Nathaniel Webster and Danilo Kovacevic. Christopher Norlin and Iker Gaztambide Arrastia meanwhile moved to 6-0 as a tandem with a 6-2 victory over Parrish Simmons and Abe Wojtalik. 

In singles, Ball State was victorious at number six through Broc Fletcher and at number five via Sajin Smith to put the Cardinals in front overall, 2-1. Webster then completed a third straight sets victory for the visitors at number one to pull Ball State within a point of the overall match. 

Valentinsson finished a 6-4, 6-4 win over Vince Orlando at number two for the Huskies, meaning the result would be decided by a pair of three set matches at three and four. 

Ball State clinched the win as Eli Herran came from behind for a 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 triumph at number four, and the Cardinals also won at number three with Kovacevic recording the victory, giving the result to Ball State, 5-2. 

NIU will conclude conference play next Saturday, April 15, when they travel to Kalamazoo, Mich., to face Western Michigan. 

Ball State 5, NIU 2

Singles 
1. Nathaniel Webster (Ball State) def. Cheng En Tsai (NIU) 6-3, 6-4
2. Oliver Valentinsson (NIU) def. Vince Orlando (Ball State) 6-4, 6-4
3. Danilo Kovacevic (Ball State) def. Mikael Vollbach (NIU) 6-4, 4-6, 6-3
4. Eli Herran (Ball State) def. Iker Gaztambide Arrastia (NIU) 4-6, 6-1, 6-1
5. Sajin Smith (Ball State) def. Christopher Norlin (NIU) 6-2, 6-2
6. Broc Fletcher (Ball State) def. Guy Dagan (NIU) 6-2, 6-3

Doubles 
1. Mikael Vollbach/Cheng En Tsai (NIU) def. Nathaniel Webster/Danilo Kovacevic (Ball State) 6-1
2. Armin Koschtojan/Oliver Valentinsson (NIU) vs. Eli Herran/Vince Orlando (Ball State) 4-4, unfinished
3. Christopher Norlin/Iker Gaztambide Arrastia (NIU) def. Parrish Simmons/Abe Wojtalik (Ball State) 6-2