Men's Tennis | October 16

COLUMBUS, Oh. – The Northern Illinois University men's tennis team competed in the ITA Midwest Regionals this weekend, hosted by Ohio State. The regional took place at Ty Tucker Tennis Center and the Racquet Club of Columbus and will be completed on Tuesday, Oct. 20.

Both Curzio Manucci (Genoa, Italy / Coastal Carolina University) and Lorenzo Leti Messina (Rome, Italy / North Florida) reached the singles main draw, earning bids by securing qualifying wins on Thursday and Friday. The two joined Constantin Radu (Craiova, Romania / UTSA) in the main draw.

Manucci advanced to the Round of 32 following a win over Chicago State on Saturday.

Leti Messina and Radu entered the doubles main draw and reached the Round of 16 on Friday afternoon following victories over Marquette and Michigan.

NIU totaled eight wins on the week, including wins over both Michigan and Notre Dame, and advanced in each main draw. 

Day One
Manucci started the day with a three-set victory over Toledo's David Perret, winning 3-6, 6-3, 6-3. Leti Messina breezed to a 6-1, 6-1 win over Evan Glebov of Marquette.

Saul Berdullas Calvino won the first set against Notre Dame Nicholas Patrick, but retired in the second due to injury.

Day Two
Friday morning began with Manucci punching his ticket to the single main draw with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Vanja Hodzic. Soon after, Leti Messina knocked off Notre Dame's Nolan Balthazor 6-2, 6-3 to give the Huskies three representatives on the singles main draw.

In the doubles draw, Leti Messina / Radu faced Chadwick Anderson / Evan Glebov of Marquette, winning 8-3. The duo followed the opening round win by knocking out Benjamin Azar / Naoto Tomizawa of Michigan to reach the Round of 16 by score of 8-6. 

Day Three
Manucci propeled to the Round of 32 of the singles main draw with a 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 victory over Chicago State's Yurii Hoida. The junior exited the main draw following a loss to Ohio State. 

Leti Messina battled with Greyson Casey of Northwestern in the Round of 64 before narrowly falling 7-6 (11-9), 7-6 (7-4). 

Radu recorded a three-set victory in the singles main draw consolation, defeating Michigan's 3-6, 7-6 (7-4), 12-10.