The University of Michigan is not only the home of a football powerhouse.

The NIU men’s tennis team came out on the short end of a 9-0 score Friday as the powerful Michigan Wolverines swept NIU in both singles and doubles play. Michigan, which upped its record to 10-2 on the year, gave an indication of the tradition which is cemented with Big Ten Championships in 17 of the last 19 years.

NIU was able to extend only one match to a third set and come close in two doubles contests. The Huskies’ loss snapped a five-match win streak and left Coach Carl Neufeld’s crew at 15-10.

“This is the first time we’ve played Michigan in tennis,” Neufeld said. “When you try to play above your ability it’s tough, and even tougher if you don’t play well as a team. We did have two players who played well for us in (Dan) Bowers and (Brad) Kramer. They didn’t come up with W’s, but they played well.”

Bowers lost a 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-2 three-set battle with Michigan’s Ed Filer in the No. 3 singles slot while Kramer was beaten 6-4, 6-3 by No. 5 Wolverine entry Brad Koontz. Kramer was also part of the No. 3 doubles team along with Randy Panagopoulos which lost 7-6, (7-5), 7-5.

NIU hits the road for a Saturday 1 p.m. match at Wisconsin.