Men's Tennis | April 12

Sycamore, Ill. - The Northern Illinois University men's tennis team defeated Ball State 5-2 on Friday afternoon at Sycamore High School.
The win kept NIU (18-4, 7-2 MAC) on pace with Western Michigan and set up a winner take all match to determine the regular season Mid-American Conference Champion at 10 a.m. on Sunday, April 14.
 
"The guys were prepared for the windy conditions and did a great job executing," head coach René Vidal said. "For us, the season is just getting started. We look forward to our next match on Sunday."
With the win, the Huskies remain undefeated at home in 2024 with a perfect 10-0 record.
 
NIU jumped out to a quick lead by taking the doubles point.
 
Cheng En Tsai (Taipei, Taiwan/Abraham Baldwin CC) and Mikael Vollbach (Rothis, Austria) won at No. 1 doubles 6-1. Christopher Norlin (Stockholm, Sweden) and Iker Gaztambide Arrastia (Pamplona, Spain) also won 6-2 to clinch the first point for NIU.
Arrastia pushed the Huskies ahead 2-0 as he controlled his match at No. 3 singles 6-4, 6-4.
 
Tsai won narrowly in set one as he took the win at No. 1 singles 7-6 (7-2), 6-2 in two sets.
 
Saul Berdullas (Santiago de Compostela, Spain) won his first set narrowly 7-6 (8-6) but closed out his win at No. 4 singles in dominant fashion with a 6-1 second set win. Berdullas clinched the Huskies win as his victory provided NIU's fourth point. 
 
Norlin scored the Huskies fifth point as he came from behind at No. 6 singles 4-6, 7-5, 1-0 (10-8).
 
The Huskies wrap up the regular season on Sunday as they host WMU at Sycamore High School.
 
After Sunday's, dual the Huskies will honor seniors Cheng En Tsai, Mikael Vollbach and Armin Koschtojan.
 
 
NIU Huskies 5, Ball State 2
 
Singles competition
1. Cheng En Tsai (NIU-M) def. Nathaniel Webster (BALL) 7-6 (7-2), 6-2
2. Vince Orlando (BALL) def. Mikael Vollbach (NIU-M) 7-5, 3-6, 1-0 (10-6)
3. Iker Gaztambide (NIU-M) def. Eli Herran (BALL) 6-4, 6-4
4. Saul Berdullas (NIU-M) def. Mason Tran (BALL) 7-6 (8-6), 6-1
5. Jacks Lancaster (BALL) def. Armin Koschtojan (NIU-M) 7-5, 6-3
6. Christopher Norlin (NIU-M) def. Sajin Smith (BALL) 4-6, 7-5, 1-0 (10-8)
 
Doubles competition
1. Cheng En Tsai/Mikael Vollbach (NIU-M) def. Nathaniel Webster/Vince Orlando (BALL) 6-2
2. Jacks Lancaster/Mason Tran (BALL) def. Saul Berdullas/Armin Koschtojan (NIU-M) 4-3
3. Christopher Norlin/Iker Gaztambide (NIU-M) def. Sajin Smith/Eli Herran (BALL) 6-2
 
Match Notes:
NIU Huskies 18-4
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (3,1,4,5,6,2)
 
-- NIU --