Defecting Association of Mid-Continent Universities Conference member Southwest Missouri State won its last men’s tennis title despite a stiff challenge from NIU.

The Huskies, playing in their first AMCU tournament, came close in Saturday’s final against the Bears, who are leaving the AMCU for the Missouri Valley Conference. They will take with them seven straight AMCU titles and nine in 12 seasons.

The Bears used that winning experience to fend off the young Huskies who gave the Bears all they could handle as the Huskies took three singles matches to three sets, losing two.

“I think we really scared them. There were times when they really didn’t think they could win it,” NIU boss Charles Merzbacher said. “We went in there with the attitude that we wouldn’t be happy unless we won the championship, but I can’t help but to feel proud of the way our guys played.”

The Huskies trailed 4-2 after singles and needed a sweep of the doubles matches, but the Bears’ No.2 team of Amine Boustani and Eduardo Abril, despite losing their singles matches, teamed up to thrash Greg 0’Neil and Steve Senter 6-3, 6-1 to clinch the title.

“I think what’s great about our guys is that they’re mad that (SWMS) is leaving because we really wanted to beat them. I really feel that we had a great shot at them next year, but unfortunately we won’t get the chance,” Merzbacher said.

The biggest surprise of the tournament may have been the inspired play of freshman Dustin Dobrin, NIU’s No. 4 singles player. Dobrin went undefeated in three tournament matches, upsetting Abril in championship play 6-1, 6-1. Abril had handled Dobrin 6-1, 6-2 earlier in the year.

“I thought that I played well against him the first time we played, but he still beat me. But going into (Saturday’s) match I told myself this is my last match of the year, so I went all out and I really frustrated him,” Dobrin said.

The No. 2-seeded Huskies didn’t mess around during their quest for a showdown with the Bears in the championship, as NIU ripped Illinois-Chicago 6-0 and hammered the third-seeded tournament host Akron, 5-1 last Friday.

The Huskies had defeated the two teams earlier in the season, but Merzbacher was concerned about Akron. Those fears almost came true as Akron forced NIU into three three-set matches before losing.

Despite the loss of SWMS, Merzbacher said the quality of AMCU tennis will still improve. “I think Valparaiso is going to be a good team and Akron should be stronger next year. And we have made so much progress this year that I’m just glowing. It’s not just couple people but the whole team. We made progress in leaps and bounds this year,” Merzbacher said.