DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University men's tennis team dropped the doubles points but came from behind to defeat Buffalo, 5-2, on Friday (March 22) at the Nelson Tennis Center at Chick Evans Field House.
With the win, NIU improves to 14-3 overall, 3-1 in Mid-American Conference play.
"The guys showed a lot of poise to bounce back after close doubles matches," said NIU head coach René Vidal. "We're looking forward to our next MAC dual on Sunday."
Buffalo took the early lead as the Bulls won each of the three doubles matches.
NIU scored the first singles point when
Cheng En Tsai finished a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Artem Alekseychuk at number one. The Huskies were quickly in front as
Iker Gaztambide Arrastia scored a 6-4, 6-2 win at number four against Michael Malkin.
Saul Berdullas then brought NIU within a point of the overall win as he outlasted Cheng Tang, 6-3, 2-6, 6-1, at number three.
Mikael Vollbach clinched the dual for the Huskies with NIU's fourth-straight singles victory, topping Daniils Snaiders, 7-6, 6-0, at number two.
The Huskies and Bulls split the final two matches to finish, with
Christopher Norlin tallying a win at number six for the Huskies.
NIU will return to action on Sunday, March 24, when the Huskies host Toledo inside the Nelson Tennis Center at Chick Evans Field House, beginning at 10 a.m.
NIU 5, Buffalo 2
Doubles
1. Yu-Shiang Huang/Cheng Tang (UB) def.
Cheng En Tsai/
Mikael Vollbach (NIU), 6-4
2. Finn Macnamara/Daniils Snaiders (UB) def.
Saul Berdullas/
Armin Koschtojan (NIU), 7-6 (3)
3. Artem Alekseychuk/Theodoros Mitsakos (UB) def.
Christopher Norlin/
Iker Gaztambide Arrastia (NIU), 7-5
Singles
1.
Cheng En Tsai (NIU) def. Artem Alekseychuk (UB), 6-2, 6-3
2.
Mikael Vollbach (NIU) def. Daniils Snaiders (UB), 7-6, 6-0
3.
Saul Berdullas (NIU) def. Cheng Tang (UB), 6-3, 2-6, 6-1
4.
Iker Gaztambide Arrastia (NIU) def. Michael Malkin (UB), 6-4, 6-2
5. Theodoros Mitsakos (UB) def.
Armin Koschtojan (NIU), 7-6, 6-2
6.
Christopher Norlin (NIU) def. Finn Macnamara (UB), 6-2, 6-4
Order of Finish
Doubles: 1, 3, 2
Singles: 1, 4, 3, 2, 6, 5
