NIU men’s tennis (5-6) lost both matches of a doubleheader on Friday, falling to DePaul University (5-5) in a 5-2 loss, before losing a 6-1 match against Belmont University (4-5).
DEPAUL
The Huskies were able to take the early lead in doubles, claiming two of the three matches. However, DePaul took control in singles play, securing five victories to take the win.
Huskie juniors Iker Gaztambide Arrastia and Federico Scotuzzi defeated DePaul senior Jona Gitschel and freshman Tobias Leitner 6-0.
NIU sophomores Saul Berdullas and Sam Klein prevailed over DePaul senior Matteo Iaquinto and freshman Marko Milosavljevic, 6-2.
NIU junior Iker Dellien Velasco and freshman Chiao Bo Suo Nan versus DePaul redshirt freshman Thomas Giles and junior Pablo Torres Almeida were unfinished at 3-5.
Turning to singles competition, Gaztambide Arrastia faced Iaquinto at the No. 1 spot. After dropping a close first set 6-7 (4), Gaztambide Arrastia fought back to win the following sets 6-3, 11-9.
Berdullas was defeated by Torres Almeida in 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 sets.
Bo Suo Nan fell to DePaul’s Milosavljevic 6-0, 6-2.
After a close 7-6(7) first set loss, Scotuzzi was defeated by DePaul freshman Andy Hadziabdic after a 6-0 second set.
Velasco was bested by Giles in 6-3, 6-4 sets.
NIU freshman Pratyaksh lost toDePaul sophomore Quang Vinh Nguyen by a score of 7-5, 6-1.
BELMONT
Belmont swept the doubles matches, securing the doubles point early. In singles play, Belmont secured five victories for the win.
Gaztambide Arrastia and Scotuzzi fell to Belmont sophomore Stefan Vedovelli and junior Sabi Roi 6-3.
Berdullas and Klein were defeated by Belmont freshman Charlie Robin and junior Esunge Ndumbe in a 6-2 set.
Dellien Velasco and Bo Suo Nan were up against Belmont senior Diego Castro and junior Eli Mizerski 5-3 when the set was ruled unfinished.
Pratyaksh secured a win against Castro, 6-4, 6-1 to avoid the sweep for the Huskies.
Gaztambide Arrastia was defeated by Ndumbe in 6-3, 6-4 sets.
Berdullas lost 6-2, 7-6 sets against Roi.
Bo Suo Nan was bested by Robin in a tight contest, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.
Scotuzzi dropped 6-4, 7-5 sets against Vedovelli.
Dellien Velasco was defeated by Belmont graduate student Niklas von Hellens in straight 7-5, 7-5 sets.
UP NEXT
NIU will look to bounce back at 10:15 a.m. Saturday in Chicago as they face Eastern Kentucky University. Live stats will be available on StatBroadcast.
