Huskies remain winless in MAC, fall to Flames

By Andy Inboden, Sports Reporter

March 30, 2025

NIU men’s tennis freshman Chiao Bo Suo Nan follows through after sending the ball over the net during the Mid-American Conference Championships in October. NIU remains winless in the MAC after a 7-0 loss against the University of Illinois Chicago on Saturday. (Ashley Huss | Western Michigan University Athletics)

NIU’s men’s tennis (7-12, 0-6 MAC) was defeated by the University of Illinois Chicago Flames (13-4, 4-2 MAC) in a 7-0 loss, dropping its sixth straight conference matchup.

Huskies junior duo Iker Gaztambide Arrastia and Federico Scotuzzi were narrowly defeated by UIC redshirt senior Pedro Franca and freshman Eldin Nokic 7-6 (7-5) at No. 1 doubles spot.

In another close doubles loss for the Huskies, NIU sophomore Saul Berdullas and junior Iker Dellien Velasco fell to Flames sophomore Artem Alekseychuk and freshman Milos Mikovic by a score of 7-6 (7-3).

NIU freshmen Pratyaksh and Chiao Bo Suo Nan secured the lone victory for Huskies in doubles, defeating UIC freshman Simon Knezevic and UIC sophomore Mihailo Savic in a 6-4 set.

At the No. 1 singles spot, Gaztambide Arrastia fell to Alekseychuk 6-3, 1-6, 6-0 in a three-set battle.

Berdullas was defeated by Nokic in 6-3, 6-2 straight sets.

Scotuzzi was defeated by Mikovic 6-3, 7-6 (4) after pushing the second set to a tiebreaker.

After a close 7-5 first set, Bo Suo Nan fell short in a 6-2 second set against Savic.

Pratyaksh fell to Knezevic in consecutive 6-2 sets.

Dellien Velasco was routed by Dapcevic in 6-2, 6-1 sets.

The Huskies will look to snap a six match losing streak and earn their first conference win at 1 p.m. Thursday at Nelson Tennis Center at Chick Evans Field House against the University at Buffalo.