While Spring Break might have found most NIU students in a week-long state of procrastination, the Huskie men’s tennis team got its work done early.

NIU topped North Carolina-Asheville 7-2 and St. Louis University 9-0 last Monday. A cancellation against Campbell University in the latter part of the week gave the Huskies some time to enjoy the rays in Hilton Head, S.C.

“It was interesting to play those kinds of teams,” coach Carl Neufeld said of UNC-A and St. Louis, two teams he has never coached against in his nine-year stint at NIU. “It was fun to be outside in great weather.

“The guys were excited because we were the better team and we came out and proved it. A lot of times teams lose when they’re the better team because they’re not ready to play. We were ready to play.”

NIU upped its record to 14-4 and increased its ranking to 11th in the Midwest out of 45 teams.

Steve Wiere paced the Huskies past UNC-A at the No. 1 singles seed with a 6-1, 1-6, 6-4 score. Dan Bowers, Mats Persson and Kelly Holt also chalked up victories for NIU at the No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 singles slot, respectively.

The No. 1 doubles combination of Wiere-Bowers won its match over UNC-A by injury default. Erik Andersch-Persson was successful at the No. 2 doubles duo, as was Holt-Ralph Platz at No. 3.

NIU cleaned St. Louis with two-set sweeps in all singles and doubles categories, including unblemished sets of 6-0, 6-0 by Andersch and Persson at No. 3 and No. 4 singles, respectively.

The Huskies will continue through the week to prepare for their three weekend matches—two of which are against teams ranked in the top 10.

NIU warms up with a 1 p.m. match Friday at Indiana State before contesting sixth-ranked Notre Dame at 4 p.m. on Irish grounds in Eck Tennis Pavillion. The Huskies play at No. 8 Miami (Ohio) Saturday at 8 a.m.