The Northern Illinois University men's tennis team opened the weekend with a 6-1 victory over Binghamton on Friday afternoon (April 1) at the Nelson Tennis Center at Chick Evans Field House as the Huskies completed a season sweep of the Bearcats.
With the win, Huskie head coach Patrick Fisher claimed his 186th career victory at NIU, tying Carl Neufeld (1980-89) for the most in program history.
"I'm happy to be here at NIU and build the program into what it is," said Fisher. "We have had a lot of success in all areas, and I feel lucky to have created it and see it through. We have had a lot of great kids and a lot of great sport administrators who have had a part in it. It is a family thing.
"Being able to have a family that supports what we do, because it is a lot, it is a sacrifice, they are just as much a part of it as I am. You have to have good players, that's what it comes down to, we have done a good job of getting the right kids for NIU."
The Huskies won the two doubles matches to finish to claim the first point of the day. Mikko Malinen and Mikael Vollbach scored a 6-4 victory at number one against Shourya Verma and Kyle Weeks while Kristopher Ortega and Oliver Valentinsson ensured NIU would take the opening point with a 6-2 win against Dan Pergel and Josh Roe Flannelly.
In the singles, Valentinsson cruised to a 6-1 first set against Weeks before the Binghamton number two was forced to retire early in the second set. Malinen brought the Huskies within a point of the overall victory with his 6-1, 6-1 over Flannelly at number three.
Ortega clinched the fourth point for the Huskies with his win at number one over Verma. After taking the first set, 6-2, the Homer Glen, Ill., native fell in the second set, 0-6, but bounced back with a 6-3 third set win to seal the overall win for NIU.
At number four, Vollbach also won in three sets, outlasting Pergel, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1. Luke VanDonslear scored a 6-4, 7-5 win at number five for the Huskies while Anshumat Srivastava gave the Bearcats their lone point of the day with a 3-6, 7-5, 10-7 triumph at number six.
NIU will conclude the weekend on Sunday with a meeting against Buffalo. The match with the Bulls is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Nelson Tennis Center at Chick Evans Field House.
NIU 6, Binghamton 1
Singles
1. Kristopher Ortega (NIU) def. Shourya Verma (BING) 6-2, 0-6, 6-3
2. Oliver Valentinsson (NIU) def. Kyle Weeks (BING) 6-1, retired
3. Mikko Malinen (NIU) def. Josh Roe Flannelly (BING) 6-1, 6-1
4. Mikael Vollbach (NIU) def. Dan Pergel (BING) 3-6, 6-3, 6-1
5. Luke VanDonslear (NIU) def. Courage Crawford (BING) 6-4, 7-5
6. Anshumat Srivastava (BING) def. Christopher Knutson (NIU) 3-6, 7-5, 10-7
Doubles
1. Mikko Malinen/Mikael Vollbach (NIU) def. Shourya Verma/Kyle Weeks (BING) 6-4
2. Kristopher Ortega/Oliver Valentinsson (NIU) def. Dan Pergel/Josh Roe Flannelly (BING) 6-2
3. Luke VanDonslear/Christopher Knutson (NIU) vs. Anshumat Srivastava/Courage Crawford (BING) 5-4, unfinished
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