NIU’s No. 1 doubles tennis duo of Erik Andersch and Greg O’Neil roughed up the competition at the Michigan State Doubles Invitational and brought home yet another championship.

Andersch and O’Neil came back from a set down to Brad Rosenbaum and Wade Martin of Michigan State to win the title 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Andersch and O’Neil used a different strategy to get back into the match after the first set. They mixed up their returning combination: both players stayed back on MSU’s first serve and on the second serve, only the returner stayed back so they could attack the weaker serve.

Andersch and O’Neil’s success might have surprised the competition at Michigan, but it didn’t surprise second-year coach Charles Merzbacher. “I don’t think the level of play has reached so high in NIU since the Gullicksons were here,” Merzbacher said. “Like I said before, there’s no limit on how much all our guys can improve.”

The Gullickson twins (Tim and Tom) are NIU alumni who went on to stardom on the pro circuit. They’ve won many professional doubles titles, including several grand slam titles together and separately, with other partners.

Andersch and O’Neil also won some big matches last year, including an upset win over the Midwest’s No. 2 ranked Northwestern duo.

“Erik and Greg complement each other so well on the court. They enhance each other’s play. Erik is so emotional on the court and Greg is so laid back. They sort of meet each other halfway. When Greg gets down, Erik picks him up. When Erik gets too excited, Greg calms him down,” Merzbacher said.

Andersch played most of last year with No. 1 singles player Mats Persson. But, the way Andersch and O’Neil played, the reunification of the Swedes seem unlikely. “I get too upset with (Mats). I know him too well,” Andersch said of his roommate. “Greg and I have so much fun out there. Even when we’re losing we know that we can come back. We just talk to each other and we’re right back in it.”

Andersch and O’Neil not only complement each other personality-wise, their style of play also complements each other. O’Neil is a big server and hitter. Andersch is a steady, consistent baseliner, but when he plays doubles, he’s a volleying machine.

“Greg’s a big server. We have to work for Erik’s serve, but that’s fine. We win by making the other team work for their points,” Merzbacher said.

The No. 2 team of Persson and Dustin Dobrin finshed sixth, but were a match away from placing in the top four. The No. 3 team of Dave Settlemyer and Steve Senter placed 15th and Andy Mabadi and Andy Schoeberlein took 22nd out of 25 teams.