Men's Tennis | October 27
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Northern Illinois University men's tennis team was led by Iker Gaztmbide Arrastia (Pamplona, Spain) at the Mid-American Conference Indoor Championships this weekend.
Arrastia advanced to the semifinals of Flight A with a dominant quarterfinal win on Friday. Arrastia took down Toledo's Poonthong Komolpisu by a score of 6-2, 6-3. Arrastia was defeated in the semifinal by eventual champion Anton Arzhankin of Western Michigan.
"Congratulations to Co-Captain Iker on his overall performance," NIU head coach René Vidal said. "Although we are sure he wanted to go all the way, Iker is performing at a high level."
In other singles competition,
Saul Berdullas (Santiago de Compostela, Spain) advanced to the quarterfinals of Flight A after he defeated Sajin Smith of Ball State in the Round of 16, 6-3, 7-6.
Iker Dellien Velasco (Trinidad, Bolivia/UAB) earned a spot in the Flight E championship and came up just short in a close final match. Dellien advanced from the quarters in three sets with a 7-5, 4-6, (10-8) win. He then defeated Drew Evans of WMU, 7-5, 7-5, to reach the final.
Federico Scotuzzi (Bergamo, Italy) earned a win in the Flight B consolation with a 7-6 (7-5), 2-6, 10-8 three set win over Simon Knezevic of UIC.
"Individually in singles, Fede and Iker (Dellien) in particular had some standout performances," said Vidal. "They have been working hard on the court and the results are beginning to show."
The Huskies were unable to advance in doubles competition.
"Doubles on a whole could've been better, but realistically we have a lot of potential new options when spring comes around. It was a solid fall season for Huskie men's tennis," said Vidal.
The MAC Indoor Championships brought a close to the Huskies' fall season. NIU will open their dual season on Jan. 17, 2025, against Purdue.
-- NIU --
NIU Singles results
Flight A
Oct. 25
Saul Berdullas (NIU) def. Sajin Smith Ball State W 6-3, 7-6 (7-1) 3-3 Fligha A MAC Indoor
Oct. 25 Milos Mikovic UIC L 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 3-4 Flight A MAC Indoor
Oct. 25
Iker Gaztambide Arrastia (NIU) Poonthong Komolpisut Toledo W 6-2, 6-3 11-2 Flight A MAC Indoor
Oct. 26 Anton Arzhankin UIC def.
Iker Gaztambide Arrastia (NIU) L 6-1, 6-1 11-3 Flight A MAC Indoor
Flight B
Oct. 25 Clement Mainguy Buffalo def.
Federico Scotuzzi (NIU) L 6-2, 6-3 0-2 Flight B MAC Indoor
Oct. 25
Federico Scotuzzi (NIU) def. Simon Knezevic UIC W 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 1-2 Flight B MAC Cons.
Oct. 25 Jack Davison WMU def.
Chiao Bo Suo Nan (NIU) L, 0-6, 6-4, 10-5 4-4 Flight B MAC Indoor
Oct. 26 Danills Snaiders Buffalo def.
Chiao Bo Suo Nan (NIU) L, 6-7 (5-7), 6-2, 10-8 4-5 Flight B MAC Cons.
Oct. 26
Chiao Bo Suo Nan (NIU) def. Simon Knezevic UIC W, 3-0 RET. 5-5 Flight B MAC Cons.
Flight C
Oct. 24 Matej Kajzer WMU def.
Angus Howard (NIU) L 6-4, 3-6, 10-4 3-4 Flight C MAC Indoor
Oct. 25 Charlie Snow Toledo def.
Angus Howard (NIU) L 7-6 (10-8), 3-6, (6-10) 3-5 Flight C MAC Cons.
Flight D
Oct. 24 Brogan Pierce WMU def.
Sam Klein (NIU) L 6-2, 6-0 4-5 Flight D MAC Indoor
Oct. 25 Emil Dapcevic UIC def.
Sam Klein (NIU) L 7-6 (9-7), 6-4 4-6 Flight D MAC Cons.
Oct. 26
Sam Klein (NIU) def. Andrew Hayward Ball State W 6-1, 1-6, 10-6 5-6 Flight D MAC Cons.
Flight E
Oct. 24
Iker Dellien Velasco (NIU) def. Joshua Mackey Toledo W 7-5, 4-6, 10-8 4-3 Flight E MAC Indoor
Oct. 25
Iker Dellien Velasco (NIU) def. Drew Evans WMU W 7-5, 7-5 5-3 Flight E MAC Indoor SF
Oct. 26 Yu-Shiang Huang Buffalo def.
Iker Dellien Velasco (NIU) L 6-3, 7-6 (7-0) 5-4 Flight E MAC Infoor E
NIU Doubles Results
Flight A
Oct. 24 Alekseychuk/Milos UIC def. Berdullas/Klein (NIU) L 8-4 4-3 Flight A MAC Indoor
Oct. 24 Webster/Lancaster Ball State def. Suo Nan/GaztambideArrastia (NIU) L 8-4 0-2 Flight A MAC Indoor
Oct. 25 Suo Nan/GaztambideArrastia (NIU) def. Komolpisut/Mackey Toledo W 8-4 1-2 Flight A MAC Indoor co.
Oct. 25 Suo Nan/GaztambideArrastia (NIU) def. Brady/Smith Ball State W 8-4 2-2 Flight A MAC Indoor co.
Flight B
Oct. 25 Hayward/Bicanic Ball State def. Dellien/Theriault (NIU) L, 8-2 0-2 Flight B MAC Indoor
