For the past two weeks, the NIU men’s tennis team has done without the expertise of its coach, Chuck Merzbacher.

They will no longer have to make due without him as Merzbacher is expected back in DeKalb for today’s 3 p.m. home match against Illinois State at the West Campus Courts.

The 7-13 Huskies really missed their coach on Sunday when they were trounced 9-0 by No. 22 Ball State. Each NIU player lost his singles match in straight sets.

“It was tough watching our opponents talking to their coaches,” Matt Green, a freshman, said. “It’s hard to try to figure out what’s going on by yourself.”

Green and every other Huskie longed for Merzbacher’s knowledge.

“Our coach has been through everything,” Green added. “He knows how to beat players that are better than you. I know he would have been out on the court right away against Ball State.”

Green said the practices have been “fine” without Merzbacher thanks to veterans Steve Senter, Dustin Dobrin, Paul Gill and David Settlemeyer.

“They just took over,” Green said, “and I’d have to say it’s gotten just as intense at times.”

NIU hasn’t done poorly without its coach. They’ve done as well as expected. The Huskies, who have won six of their last seven matches, beat Purdue last weekend and beat Valparaiso and led Akron 4-1 before falling to Ball State in Merzbacher’s absence.