While the weather was better suited to the “Ducks” of the University of Oregon, victory was better suited to the NIU men’s tennis team.

Coach Chuck Merzbacher’s crew hung on through the tough matches Friday to capture four of six singles matches and two of three doubles contests in their first dual meet outing of the year on the Illinois State campus.

While freshman phenom Marty Engel lost his first match of the year at the No. 1 singles slot in a 7-5, 7-6 (7-5) battle with Lee Kimer, his teammates captured the Nos. 2 through 5 contests. Dustin Dobrin was a 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 winner at No. 2 while Steve Senter claimed the No. 3 showdown in a 7-6 (7-1), 6-4 tussle. Matt Green was a 6-2, 6-1 victor at No. 4.

“The key performer was Andy Schoeberlein at No. 5. The match was 3-2 when Andy pulled off his victory to put us up 4-2,” Merzbacher said in noting the overall turning point.

Schoeberlein won the opening 7-6 set in a 7-4 tiebreaker before losing the second set in a 7-3 tiebreaker, but then rallied back for a 6-2 victory in the third. Schoeberlein also teamed with Senter for a 6-2, 6-1 win at the No. 2 doubles slot. The Huskies’ other point came at No. 3 doubles as Dobrin and Corey Westphal combined for a 6-2, 6-0 success story.