Northern Star

Men’s tennis eager for conference play

By Darwin Minnis | March 24, 2014

After an impressive 13-5 start to the season, men’s tennis is headed into conference play.The Huskies, who are undefeated at home on the season, will play four conference opponents over the next four weeks starting with Western Michigan Saturday. Three...

Men’s tennis hopes to defend undefeated home record

By Darwin Minnis | March 19, 2014

Men’s tennis is ready for its first match in ten days and it comes in the form of a double header.The Huskies (12-5) will play the St. Louis Billikens (6-5) at 1 p.m. Saturday in Rockford before they take on the Cardinal Stritch Wolves (6-8) at 5 p.m....

Men’s tennis in midst of culture change

By Darwin Minnis | February 27, 2014

The addition of head coach Patrick Fisher four seasons ago and the new talent he’s brought in have transformed men’s tennis from a below -.500 team during his first two seasons to a championship contender.When Fisher took over the program in 2009,...

Men’s tennis still perfect at home

By Darwin Minnis | February 23, 2014

Men’s tennis continued their home dominance when they played Butler, Western Illinois and Dayton over the weekend.The Huskies put their perfect 7-0 home record on the line vs. Butler (6-3) Thursday in Rockford.NIU started off on the right foot in doubles,...

Men’s tennis serving up home court defense

By Darwin Minnis | February 19, 2014

Men’s tennis team looks to continue its perfect 7-0 record at home this season against three opponents this weekend.The Huskies (7-3) will take on the Butler Bulldogs (1-5) 5 p.m. Thursday in Rockford before hosting Western Illinois (1-5) 1 p.m. and...

Men’s tennis to face two challenges

By Darwin Minnis | February 12, 2014

Men’s tennis is looking to regain some momentum when it takes on Iowa and Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis this weekend.The Huskies (6-2) will take on the Iowa Hawkeyes (3-0) 6 p.m. Friday in Iowa City, Iowa, before returning home to...

Around the League: Part One

By Jacob Onak | July 15, 2013

Men’s GolfTom Porten - NIUTime at school: Entering fifth seasonBase Salary: $51,252Career Highlights: Back-to-back sixth place finishes in the MAC Championships in 2010 and 2011 seasons.Mike Fleck - Ball StateTime at school: 16th seasonBase Salary:...

Men’s tennis unable to come out on top in championships

By Jacob Onak | April 27, 2013

It was an up-and-down weekend for men’s tennis as it upset No. 1 seed Ball State in the first round of the MAC Championships only to fall in the finals to Western Michigan. On Friday, NIU managed to punch its ticket to the Finals with a 4-2 against...

Men’s tennis faces stern test in first round of MAC Championships

By Thomas Hiley III | April 25, 2013

The men’s tennis team’s (15-8, 3-2 MAC) MAC conference play came to a close last weekend with the win over Buffalo (9-9, 3-2 MAC) 4-3. Next for the Huskies will be the MAC Championship to be played in DeKalb. Their first opponent will be the Ball...

Men’s tennis to take on Western Michigan

By Thomas Hiley III | March 27, 2013

NIU men’s tennis will travel to Kalamazoo, Mich. Friday to open up its MAC play against Western Michigan (11-7, 1-0 MAC).

Western Michigan won the MAC Tournament from 2006 to 2010, but lost in the semifinals last season to eventual champion Ball State. NIU coach Patrick Fisher is familiar with Western Michigan’s success and knows first-hand how tough the Broncos are; he’s never beaten them in his tenure at NIU.

“Everyone in their lineup is a threat,” Fisher said. “They’ve won the league and gone to the tournament, I would say, seven or eight times out of the last 10. They are the team to beat. They are the class of the league. I think in a lot of ways they’ve been like the Akron of men’s soccer; no one really can beat them on a regular basis.”

The Huskies (14-5) have not matched the Broncos’ success over the past few seasons, but have steadily improved in each campaign.

This season has gone exceptionally well for NIU, already accumulating its most team wins since its 16-win 2002-03 showing with nine matches still scheduled.

The Huskies have made it clear they are ready to be the new breed of the MAC, and with a lineup capable of putting up 14 wins without two-time All-MAC performer Maksym Bartiuk, the once-tested depth of the lineup seems to no longer be a problem.

“We’ve had to deal with an unhealthy lineup this whole year,” Fisher said. “Regardless of where we are at, we still feel we have a good chance to win. We’ve won a lot already without having guys in the lineup at certain times this year.”

Fisher said his current roster has what it takes to avenge last season’s 6-1 loss to the Broncos.

“We’re really excited,” Fisher said. “We’re probably in the best shape going into the conference play in the last four or five years. Obviously, we’ve won a lot and our guys have some great confidence right now. Except for a couple matches, we’ve been in position to win every single match and I don’t see that changing this week.”

Away games are crucial in tennis

By Thomas Hiley III | March 26, 2013

When it comes to playing at home and playing away, most people think the only difference is being home you have the crowd advantage, but that isn’t the only thing. When it comes to having to go to an away match there’s a lot of things that have to...

Men’s tennis to take on SIUC

By Thomas Hiley III | March 20, 2013

The men’s tennis team is set to play its last non-conference game when it goes take on Southern Illinois University Carbondale (8-2). SIU is currently on a six-game winning streak with its most recent win coming against Chicago State (1-15). SIU’s...

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Northern Star

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Northern Star

Men’s tennis eager for conference play

Men’s tennis hopes to defend undefeated home record

Men’s tennis in midst of culture change

Men’s tennis still perfect at home

Men’s tennis serving up home court defense

Men’s tennis to face two challenges

Around the League: Part One

Men’s tennis unable to come out on top in championships

Men’s tennis faces stern test in first round of MAC Championships

Men’s tennis to take on Western Michigan

Away games are crucial in tennis

Men’s tennis to take on SIUC

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