NIU men’s tennis (11-5, 2-1 MAC) hosted and was defeated 4-3 by Drake University (13-2, 1-0 Summit) on Monday in a brief break from Mid-American Conference play.
The Huskies were hoping to bounce back from Saturday’s 4-3 loss against Ball State University but faced a red-hot Drake side. NIU suffered a similar fate and were unable to close out the 3-2 lead.
Drake took the advantage in doubles and was able to split the singles matchups 3-3, including a comeback win in the deciding match.
DOUBLES
The Huskies took the early advantage in doubles as Iker Gaztambide Arrastia and sophomore Nikola Puntaric overcame sophomore Adan Tarquino and freshman Ulysse Verrando 6-3.
The Bulldogs reversed the brief lead by taking No. 2 and 3 matchups. NIU’s senior Iker Dellien Velasco and sophomore Chiao Bo Suo Nan fell 6-4 to junior duo Ben Johnson and Alan Gonzalez while senior Federico Scotuzzi and sophomore Lorenzo Leti Messina were beaten 6-3 by freshman pair Arin Menon and Alex Yeager.
SINGLES
The Huskies had previously won against Western Michigan University after conceding the doubles point but fell short in that attempt against Drake.
Puntaric and Arrastua started the NIU rally at No.1 and No. 2, beating senior Christian Winstead 6-3, 6-2 and Gonzalez 6-4, 6-3, respectively. Drake’s freshman Sam Malaga drew level after overcoming Leti Messina 6-3, 6-4 at No. 3.
No. 4 singles saw a comeback win from Scotuzzi. The Italian fell quickly in the first set 6-1 but adjusted in the following two sets with 6-2, 7-5 wins to put NIU within one point of victory.
Bulldogs sophomore Alessandro Hernandez picked up a 6-3, 6-2 win over Suo Nan to force a winner-take-all No. 6 matchup.
Sophomore Pratyaksh LNU battled Menon and scraped by in a tiebreaker 7-6 in the first set but couldn’t match the intensity in the final two sets. Drake flipped the momentum and took the match 6-3, 6-4, handing NIU consecutive losses for the first time this season.
UP NEXT
The Huskies continue their homestand against MAC rivals the University at Buffalo at 1 p.m. Thursday at the Nelson Tennis Center at Chick Evans Field House.
