NIU men’s tennis (8-14, 1-8 MAC) came up short against the Ball State University Cardinals (11-9, 4-5 MAC) in a 5-2 loss.
The Huskies got out to an early lead, clinching the doubles point after two match wins.
Huskie juniors Iker Gaztambide Arrastia and Federico Scotuzzi defeated Ball State senior Nathaniel Webster and junior Jacks Lancaster in a close 7-6 (7-1) set.
NIU duo freshmen Chiao Bo Suo Nan and Pratyaksh LNU took a 6-4 set at No. 3 doubles to win the doubles point for the Huskies.
Huskies sophomore duo Saul Berdullas and Sam Klein were up 6-5 at the No. 2 doubles spot when the match was unfinished.
The Huskies dropped all but one singles match, allowing Ball State to make a comeback for the win.
In the only singles win for the Huskies, Gaztambide Arrastia defeated Webster by a score of 7-5, 6-3.
After taking a 6-2 first set, Berdullas fell to Lancaster in 6-3, 6-2 sets.
Scotuzzi fell to Ball State senior Mason Tran in close 7-5, 7-6 (7-2) sets.
Pratyaksh dropped 6-2, 7-6 (7-3) sets against Cardinals sophomore Andrew Hayward.
Klein was routed by Ball State redshirt senior Sajin Smith, losing in 6-3, 6-1 sets.
NIU junior Iker Dellien Velasco lost a three–set battle against Ball State’s junior Broc Fletcher 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.
The Huskies wrap up their season at noon Saturday in Kalamazoo, Michigan, against the Western Michigan University Broncos.
