Men's Tennis | October 24

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Northern Illinois University men's tennis team is at the MAC Indoor Championships this weekend, hosted by Western Michigan. The three-day competition begins Friday, Oct. 24 and ends Sunday, Oct. 26.

The Huskies got off to a positive start on day one with Nikola Puntaric (Ljubljana, Slovenia/Tulsa) reaching the semifinals of the Main Draw Singles.

Puntaric started the day by defeating Western Michigan's Chen Hui Ho 7-5, 6-3. In the quarterfinals, the sophomore faced Buffalo's Theodoris Mitsakos and dropped the first set. Puntaric stormed back, winning the final two sets to reach the semifinals by score of 2-6, 6-4, 6-2.

Puntaric is set to face Toledo's Poonthong Komolpisut tomorrow with a trip to the Main Draw Final on the line.

Iker Dellien Velasco (Trinidad, Bolivia/UAB) will play Buffalo's Faiz Nasyam Saturday in the semifinal of the C Draw. Dellien advanced from the quarterfinals by way of walkover due to injury.

Gustavo Juarez Lopez (Mexico City, Mexico/Indiana University HS) is scheduled against Victor Dorojan of UIC in the F Draw semifinals.

NIU also saw success in doubles on day one. The pairing of Lorenzo Leti Messina (Rome, Italy/North Florida) and Federico Scotuzzi (Bergamo, Italy/North Alabama) defeated Andrei Caragea and Jacks Lancaster of Ball State 8-4 to reach the quarterfinals of the Main Draw Doubles.

Saturday, Messina / Scotuzzi have Western Michigan's Tim Riedel and Draw Evans in the quarterfinals while Puntaric and Iker Gaztambide Arrastia (Pamplona, Spain/Jesuitas) will face Ball State's Andrew and Nolan Hayward.

James Theriault (Oak Brook, Ill./Hinsdale Central) and Dellien held on for a close 8-7 (7-4) victory over Zackary Kimelman and Jeremy Milette of Ball State to advance to the quarterfinals of the B Draw Doubles.

This story will be updated.

MAC Indoor Championships Draw