Erik Andersch had to deal with mixed emotions before he began practice for the last time with the rest of the NIU tennis team.

“It’s incredible, I have so many mixed feelings right now,” Andersch, a graduating senior, said Wednesday as he looked upon the West Campus Courts where his teammates already began to drill.

Four years ago, former NIU tennis coach Carl Neufeld made a call to Guthenburg, Sweden, where the Anderschs reside. Erik’s hometown friend Ova Pipkorn, the No. 4 player for Iowa State University, informed Neufeld of a young Swede wanting to play tennis in the United States.

“I wrote about 35 letters to the U.S.,” Andersch, the No. 2 singles player, said. “Then Carl called me. I took a big chance coming to NIU, but I don’t regret taking that chance at all.”

Four years later, Andersch has gained 95 match wins (the second most in NIU history), and a Mid-Continent all-conference honor.

“I realize now how much I got out of collegiate tennis,” Andersch said. “In the beginning I didn’t realize it. I got everything I expected out of my college experience thanks to the NIU athletic department.”

Erik, the main man in the No. 1 doubles team for two years, pulled off his biggest upset last year when he and his teammate Mats Persson, who is also his roommate, paired to knock off the No. 5 doubles team in the nation from Kentucky University. Andersch also won his singles match to account for the only two points the Huskies managed from the Wildcats.

Andersch has seen many changes in the tennis program in his four years. The biggest change came last year when Charles Merzbacher took over the coaching helm for Neufeld, who resigned to take an assistant job at the University of Southern California after nine seasons at NIU.

“I’m very happy I got the opportunity to play for Chuck,” Andersch said. “There’s nothing bad about Carl, but you can see the difference with Chuck. There’s a bright future in what Chuck is doing.”

Merzbacher has upgraded the schedule, taking on six Big Ten opponents in the Spring.

But Neufeld had taken his last team to a Top-10 regional ranking and his No. 1 player Steve Wiere qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row.

“We had a great year our last year with Carl,” Andersch said. “Steve Wiere and Dan Bower were great No. 1 and No. 2 players. But we’re more organized now. It’s a team for the future now. Just wait two or three years from now, then see what happens.”

Andersch comes from a tennis family. His sister, Hild, plays No. 2 singles and No. 2 doubles for the NIU women’s tennis team. His younger brother also hopes to play collegiate tennis next year in the U.S.

“College tennis is a special thing,” Andersch said. “It’s a lot different from tournament play. There’s a team concept in college tennis. I’m going to miss this team a lot.”

Andersch’s last hurrah will be at the Mid-Continent tournament this weekend, where the Huskies are overwhelming favorites to capture the title after finishing second last year. “Erik is the heart and soul of this team,” Merzbacher said. “He sets the whole tone during a meet. He’s just a natural grinder. He’s one of those guys who’ll do anything to win a match. You just can’t replace a guy like that.”