Mats Persson got a key win for himself in NIU’s men’s tennis meet against Purdue, but his efforts did not help Huskies’ coach Charles Merzbacher get his first Big Ten win.

The Huskies suffered a 6-3 setback to the Boilermakers, the same margin they lost last year. However, Persson overcame a match point in a three-set match to outlast Scott Micus 6-3, 6-7 (7-3), 7-6 (8-6) in the No. 1 singles battle.

“Mats didn’t have a very good Fall, and this was a big win for him,” Merzbacher said. “(Micus) was hitting bombs and Mats was returning them.”

“(Micus) was a big guy with a big serve,” Persson said. “I got my game together and played well in the big points. I knew if I could just keep the ball in then things would work out.”

The absence of senior Greg O’Neil, who was suspended for violating team rules, hurt the Huskies. O’Neil plays No. 1 doubles with Erik Andersch and No. 2 singles. His absence forced the Huskies to play with different partners in doubles, and play above their regular positions in singles.

“(Suspending O’Neil) was a very tough decision,” Merzbacher said. “But if you think in terms of wins and losses, you’re probably not much of a person,” Merzbacher said. “This was probably my best chance to getting a Big Ten victory, but I felt the suspension was necessary.”

Purdue swept the Huskies in doubles, taking an early 3-0 lead in the meet.

Andersch and Persson suffered a 6-2, 7-5 set back to Micus and Dan Poole in the No. 1 doubles match. “We practiced doubles so much and emphasized it so much, it was really a disappointment,” Merzbacher said.

Steve Senter and David Settelmeyer suffered a straight-set loss at No. 2, and Dustin Dobrin and Andy Schoeberlein lost at No. 3 despite winning the first set 6-0.

Andersch filled in nicely in the No. 2 singles spot, nailing Poole 6-3, 6-4. “(Poole) tried to make me look bad, just getting the ball back. But I guess I made him look bad,” Andersch said.