Men's Tennis | March 21

ROCHELLE, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University men's tennis team defeated Toledo 5-2 at Rochelle High School on Saturday afternoon, moving to 13-5 on the season and 4-1 in conference play.

"Today's victory was a total team effort from start to finish," said head coach René Vidal. "After we secured the doubles point, the guys did a great job of keeping the pressure on and refusing to get complacent."

NIU took the doubles point with wins at No. 2 and No. 3. Lorenzo Leti Messina / Federico Scotuzzi took a 6-2 lead while the Rockets won at No. 1. Iker Dellien Velasco / Chiao Bo Suo Nan stepped up for the Huskies, clinching the point with a 7-6 (9-7) win.

In singles, Scotuzzi (Bergamo, Italy / North Alabama) tilted momentum back in the Huskies favor after Toledo opened with the first win. The senior downed Lucas Britez 6-3, 6-4 at No. 4. The three of the four remaining courts all needed three sets to be decided.

Suo Nan (Taiwan / Taipei Municipal Jianguo) opened the door for NIU to clinch the match with a 5-7, 6-3, 6-0 win at No. 5. Iker Gaztambide Arrastia (Pamplona, Spain / Jesuitas) was the one to bring it home for the Huskies, defeating Poonthong Komolpisut 4-6, 6-2, 6-4.

The final win of the day came from Lorenzo Leti Messina (Rome, Italy / North Florida), winning 6-3, 7-6 (7-5).

The Huskies have a doubleheader next Saturday, March 28 against UIC and Judson.