DeKALB – NIU men’s tennis won four out of the six singles matches and two out of the three doubles matches en route to a 5-2 win over the Binghamton University Bearcats Friday. 

The Huskies improved to 12-6 on the season and 2-0 in Mid-American Conference play with the win.

Friday’s match was the 15th consecutive match in a row that the Huskies started off with a doubles win. Senior Oliver Valentinsson and junior Cheng En Tsai topped Bearcat freshman Ronin Lotlikar and sophomore Kyle Weekes by a score of 6-1.

NIU TAKES FOUR OUT OF SIX SINGLES

The Huskies started off the match by taking the first four singles. Valentinsson won the first single for the Huskies by defeating Bearcat senior Michael Pawlowicz 6-4, 6-3. Valentinsson prevailed in both his singles and doubles on the day against the Bearcats.

En Tsai took Bearcat freshman William Morais Binnie to three sets in the No. 2 position for singles. Binnie took the first set against En Tsai by a score of 6-2. En Tsai rallied and took the two final sets 6-4, 6-2.

At the No. 3 position, NIU junior Mikael Vollbach took Lotlikar three sets in singles win. Vollbach dropped the first set 6-4, but fought back to take the final two sets 6-4, 6-2 to secure the singles win.

In the final singles win of the day for the Huskies, freshman Iker Gaztambide Arrastia defeated Weekes 6-1, 6-3.

The Huskies then dropped the final two singles matches of the day with junior Armin Koschtojan falling to Bearcat senior Dan Pergel 3-6, 3-6; along with NIU freshman Christopher Norlin dropping his match 6-2, 5-7, 4-6.

HUSKIES EDGE BEARCATS IN DOUBLES

After Vollbach and En Tsai won their doubles match, Valentinsson and Koschtojan were unable to come away with their doubles match against Bearcat freshman James McPherson and Binnie.

For the final double of the day, Norlin and Arrastia took down Bearcat opponents Pergel and Pawlowicz 6-4.

The Huskies stay on the road this weekend and will take on the University at Buffalo at 1 p.m.  Sunday in Buffalo, New York. Live stats will be available via iOnCourt.