NIU men’s tennis (3-2) fell to the Illinois State University Redbirds (3-3), losing a 5-2 match on Saturday.
The Redbirds won singles play, winning five out of six matches, while NIU swept doubles matches to claim the doubles point.
After taking a 6-1 first set, junior Iker Gaztambide Arrastia dropped 6-3, 6-4 sets in a loss against Redbirds junior Tomas Valencia.
Redbird junior Adrian Dibildox defeated NIU sophomore Saul Berdullas in 7-5, 6-3 sets.
Redbird junior Tin Ostro bested Huskie freshman Chiao Bo Suo Nan in a tight contest, 7-6(6), 6-3.
NIU junior Iker Dellien Velasco was defeated by Illinois State freshman Christian Capacci in consecutive 6-2 sets.
Redbird junior Caden Scarlett overpowered NIU freshman Pratyaksh, 6-3, 7-6(3).
In the lone singles victory for NIU, junior Federico Scotuzzi secured a win against Redbird junior Jett Leong, 6-3, 6-1.
In doubles play, NIU shined, winning all three matches.
The duo of Gaztambide Arrastia and Scotuzzi defeated Intercollegiate Tennis Association ranked duo Scarlett and Valencia in a 6-2 set.
Berdullas and sophomore Sam Klein edged out sophomore Tom Bevan and Dibildox 7-5.
Dellien Velasco and Bo Suo Nan secured a 7-5 victory over Ostro and Capacci to complete the doubles sweep.
NIU will look to bounce back at 2 p.m. Saturday in South Bend, Indiana, against the University of Notre Dame. Live stats will be updated on StatBroadcast.