Northern Star

 

Advertisement

 

 
Northern Star

Northern Illinois University’s student news organization since 1899

 

Ensure student journalism survives. Donate today.

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

Freshman Saul Berdullas throws up a serve against Omaha on March 2. Berdullas was the lone Huskie to win a singles match in a  5-2 loss to Western Michigan University. (Norther Star File Photo)

Men’s tennis falls to Western Michigan, ends winning streak at 9

March 11, 2024

Losing to Western Michigan University (10-3, 2-0 MAC), NIU men’s tennis’ (11-3, 1-1 MAC) winning streak has ended at nine matches.  The Huskies won two matches to clinch the doubles point, before losing all but one of the singles matches.  Seniors...

Freshman Sam Klein (left) and sophomore Iker Gaztambide Arrastia (right) reach for a handshake at the Nelson Tennis Center at Chick Evans Field House. Gaztambide Arrastia won his doubles match with sophomore Christopher Norlin as NIU defeated Ball State University 5-2. (Scott Walstrom | NIU Athletics)

Men’s tennis wins 9th straight with win over Ball State

By Kalin Schaefer, Sports Reporter | March 9, 2024

Adding another win to the now nine match win streak, NIU men’s tennis (11-2, 1-0 MAC) defeated Ball State University (6-6, 0-1 MAC) 5-2, earning its first conference win. The Huskies won two of the three matches to clinch the doubles point, dropping...

NIU senior Mikael Vollbach gets set to receive the serve during singles. Vollbach scored the Huskies’ second point in a tight match that went to a second set tiebreaker as he defeated University of Nebraska Omaha sophomore Ryoma Mishiro with scores of 6-4, 7-6 and 7-5. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Vollbach earns MAC Scholar Athlete of the Week honors

By Kalin Schaefer, Sports Reporter | March 7, 2024

NIU men’s tennis senior Mikael Vollbach was named the MAC Scholar Athlete of the Week, the conference announced Wednesday.  MAC faculty athletics representatives consider athletic performance from the previous week and grade-point average when selecting...

Then-junior Mikael Vollbach stands ready to receive a serve during mens tennis match against the University of Illinois Chicago on Feb. 22, 2023. Vollbach won all three of his matches Saturday, including his doubles match with senior Cheng En Tsai and the dual-clinching singles match against University of Nebraska Omaha. (Courtesy of NIU Athletics)

Men’s tennis take two decisive victories

By Kalin Schaefer, Sports Reporter | March 3, 2024

Improving to 10-2 on the season, NIU men’s tennis defeated both Southern University (0-9) and the University of Nebraska Omaha (10-6) on Saturday.  Defeating Southern 7-0 with two doubles and four singles matches being played, only five Huskies...

NIU mens tennis head coach René Vidal looks off into the distance. Vidal was announced as the next NIU mens tennis head coach Tuesday. (Courtesy of René Vidal)

René Vidal announced as next NIU men’s tennis head coach

By Ethan Gonzales, Sports Editor | February 8, 2024

DeKALB – Former McKendree University men’s and women’s tennis head coach René Vidal was named NIU men’s tennis head coach Wednesday, NIU Athletics announced. Vidal served as McKendree’s head tennis coach from 2020 to 2024. In 2022, Vidal...

NIU senior Mikael Vollbach (left) serves to University of North Dakota players as senior Cheng En Tsai ducks behind the net to prepare for the return. Tsai and Vollbach locked in with the other Huskie doubles, giving up only 2 games. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Men’s tennis dominates North Dakota, earn third win

By Sana Polizzi, Sports Reporter | January 27, 2024

Following a 6-1 defeat on the road against the Drake University Bulldogs, the NIU men's tennis team returned home to crush the University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks in a 6-1 win. NIU was undefeated in doubles and only had one loss in singles.  NIU...

Arrastia shines at MAC Indoor Championships

By Lucas Didier | November 8, 2023

Sophomore Iker Gaztambide Arrastia led a strong showing for NIU men’s tennis at the 2023 MAC Indoor Championships, taking first place in both flight three singles and flight two doubles. Arrastia won every set he faced the entire weekend. In singles,...

Then-junior Mikael Vollbach stands ready to receive a serve during mens tennis match against the University of Illinois Chicago on Feb. 22. Vollbach and senior Cheng En Tsai won two doubles matches before falling in the Round of 16 at the ITA Regional this weekend. (Courtesy of NIU Athletics)

Norlin earns four wins at ITA Regional

By Lucas Didier, Sports Reporter | October 24, 2023

DeKALB – NIU sophomore Christopher Norlin took the spotlight in a solid showing from NIU men’s tennis at the ITA Midwest Regional Championships this past weekend in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Norlin won all three of his qualifying matches to earn a place...

Sophomore Iker Gaztambide Arrastia hits a forehand during his singles match on April 7 at DeKalb High School. Gaztambide Arrastia was one of four Huskies that competed in the ITA All-American Championships. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Vollbach nets pair of wins at ITA All-American Championships

By Skyler Kisellus, Sports Reporter | October 5, 2023

DeKALB – NIU men’s tennis senior Mikael Vollbach strung early success in the Pre-Qualifying draw of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s All-American Championships this past weekend in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Vollbach was one of four Huskies to...

NIU freshman tennis player Iker Gaztambide Arrastia completes a serve against University of Toledo’s Marko Galic, a senior, during their singles match on April 7 at DeKalb High School. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Three Huskies earn MAC postseason honors

By Zack Rodriguez, Sports Reporter | April 26, 2023

DeKALB - Three of NIU's men’s tennis team members received post-season honors, NIU announced Wednesday Iker Gaztambide Arrastia won the MAC Freshman of the Year award while senior Oliver Valentinsson and junior Mikael Vollbach secured Second Team...

Junior Cheng En Tsai returns a serve from his opponent Friday afternoon. The University of Toledo Rockets defeated the Huskies 4-3. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Men’s tennis falls to Toledo in tight contest

By DeOndre Saunders, Sports Reporter | April 8, 2023

DeKALB – The NIU men’s tennis team was defeated in a close battle 4-3 Friday afternoon against the University of Toledo Rockets.  SINGLES The Rockets put the first singles points on the board when junior Pawit Sornlaksup defeated NIU junior Cheng...

Huskies’ doubles streak snapped in loss to Buffalo

By Adrien De La Peña, Sports Reporter | April 2, 2023

DeKALB – NIU men’s tennis dropped its Sunday match 5-2 against the University at Buffalo. The Bulls controlled the whole match against the Huskies and snapped NIU’s 15-game first-double match winning streak. The Huskies drop to 12-7 on the season...