The Northern Illinois University men's tennis team fell to Saint Louis, 4-2, on Monday afternoon (April 18) in the final match of the regular season for the Huskies. Mikko Malinen and Luke VanDonslear picked up singles wins for NIU but the Huskies fell to 11-10 overall.
The Billikens picked up the doubles point as Theo Ortis and Ryota Fukushima scored a 6-2 win at number one while Adam Behun and Jonathan Sadowski earned a victory by an identical score at number three.
Malinen scored the opening point in singles with a 6-1, 6-2 win against Behun at number four. VanDonslear also won in straight sets for the Huskies with a 6-4, 7-6 triumph over Sadowski at number six.
Saint Louis won each of the top three matches in the lineup as Oscar Alvarez was victorious at number one, 7-5, 6-4, Fukushima claimed a 6-2, 6-2 win at number two and Ortis outlasted Mikael Vollbach in three sets, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, to help the Billikens clinch the win.
With the overall result decided, the match at number five between Armin Koschtojan and Pavel Badaiants was halted with the pair tied in the third set.
NIU will now turn its attention to the Mid-American Conference Tournament, which will begin on Saturday, April 23, in Kalamazoo, Mich. The Huskies will meet Western Michigan in the semifinals at 9 a.m. CT.
Saint Louis 4, NIU 2
Singles
1. Oscar Alvarez (SLU) def. Oliver Valentinsson (NIU) 7-5, 6-4
2. Ryota Fukushima (SLU) def. Kristopher Ortega (NIU) 6-2, 6-2
3. Theo Ortis (SLU) def. Mikael Vollbach (NIU) 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
4. Mikko Malinen (NIU) def. Adam Behun (SLU) 6-1, 6-2
5. Pavel Badaiants (SLU) vs. Armin Koschtojan (NIU) 5-7, 6-3, 2-2, unfinished
6. Luke VanDonslear (NIU) def. Jonathan Sadowski (SLU) 6-4, 7-6
Doubles
1. Theo Ortis/Ryota Fukushima (SLU) def. Oliver Valentinsson/Mikael Vollbach (NIU) 6-2
2. Oscar Alvarez/Pavel Badaiants (SLU) vs. Christopher Knutson/Mikko Malinen (NIU) 4-5, unfinished
3. Adam Behun/Jonathan Sadowski (SLU) def. Armin Koschtojan/Kristopher Ortega (NIU) 6-2
Original source can be found here.
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