Men's Tennis | February 22

Chicago, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University men's tennis team came from behind at the end of the dual to take down Eastern Kentucky 4-3 to close out the George Lott Classic at the XS Tennis Center on Saturday.

"It's a solid win for Huskie Tennis," head coach René Vidal said. "Coach Cohen at EKU has done an amazing job building their program in record time and it was a tough match from start to finish."

NIU (6-6) opened the dual by clinching the doubles point. Federico Scotuzzi (Bergamo, Italy) and Iker Gaztambide Arrastia (Pamplona, Spain) earned a 6-3 win at No. 1 doubles. Chiao Bo Suo Nan (Taiwan/) and Iker Dellien Velasco (Trinidad, Bolivia) also earned a 6-3 win at No. 3 doubles to clinch the point. Saul Berdullas (Santiago de Compostela, Spain) and Sam Klein (Elm Grove, Wis./Brookfield East) led at No. 2 doubles 5-3 when the match was stopped.

Dellien Velasco earned a win at No. 5 singles by a walkover to put the Huskies ahead 2-0. EKU responded by earning three wins in a row at singles to move just one match for a dual victory.

Pratyaksh earned a three-set come from behind win at No. 4 singles 5-7, 6-0, 6-2 to even the dual at 3-3.

As the No. 4 singles match ended Gaztambide Arrastia was tied at five games apiece in the third set with Fernando Bulnes of EKU at No. 1 singles. Arrastia moved ahead 6-5 and then closed the match in the next game to clinch the third set 7-5. Arrastia took the win 6-3, 1-6, 7-5.

NIU is back in action on Friday, Feb. 28 as the Huskies host Chicago State. That dual is set for a 2 p.m. start at the Nelson Tennis Center.

"We're looking forward to getting some rest and getting back to work for our next match," Vidal said.
 
Final Scores
Singles Competition

1. Iker Gaztambide Arrastia (NIU) def. Fernando Bulnes (EKU) 6-3, 3-6, 7-5
2. Nuno Pinheiro (EKU) def. Saul Berdullas (NIU) 6-2, 6-3
3. Adrian Contreras (EKU) def. Chiao Bo Suo Nan (NIU) 6-2, 7-6 (7-5)
4. Pratyaksh  (NIU) def. Kartik Parhar (EKU) 5-7, 6-0, 6-2
5. Iker Dellien Velasco (NIU) won by walkover against Romeo Navarro (EKU)
6. Ryan Kitchin (EKU) def. Sam Klein (NIU) 6-4, 6-4

Doubles Competition

1. Federico Scotuzzi/Iker Gaztambide Arrastia (NIU) def. Fernando Bulnes/Nuno Pinheiro (EKU) 6-3
2. Chiao Bo Suo Nan/Iker Dellien velasco (NIU) def. Adrian Contreras/Ryan Kitchin (EKU) 6-3
3. Saul Berdullas/Sam Klein (NIU) def. Romeo Navarro/Kartik Parhar (EKU) 5-3

 
-- NIU --