Jan. 31, 2013

DeKALB, Ill. - Collecting a two victory sweep last weekend in its home openers, the Northern Illinois men's tennis team will hope to advance its record to 5-1 with a trio of matches this weekend, hosting Dayton, Valparaiso and UIC. The Huskies will play the Flyers and the Crusaders Friday at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., respectively, and follow up with the Flames Sunday at 1 p.m.

In their home opener against UW-Whitewater and Chicago State last Friday, the Huskies made a clean sweep of singles play with a perfect 12-0 mark and surrendered their only point of the weekend in doubles play to the Riverhawks. NIU's Dor Amir and Frederic Cadieux both finished the weekend a flawless 4-0 with two wins apiece in doubles and single.

Cadieux has been Northern Illinois' leader of the pack three matches into the year with a flawless singles record at No. 3, including a compelling three set victory at Minnesota in the season opener Jan. 20. As a team, NIU is 13-5 in its singles lineup this spring.

Dayton has played two matches thus far this year and is an even 1-1, after defeating Robert Morris in its season opener Jan. 25, 6-1, and being swept at Ball State the following evening, 7-0. The Flyers hosted the Colonials last Friday where they secured their win and were on the road against the Cardinals.

Valpo is 3-0 in 2012, defeating both Grace and Chicago State, 7-0, on Jan. 26. The Crusaders opened up their season Jan. 21 against Western Illinois, narrowly defeating the Leathernecks, 4-3. Valparaiso's No. 1 Eric Honert is 3-0 in singles and doubles play so far this season, teaming with Lucas Waak in all of his doubles matches to this point in spring.

The Flames carry a 1-3 record to this point in the year, with their lone victory over Chicago State Jan. 19, 7-0. UIC was last in action on the 26th up in Milwaukee, Wis. falling to Marquette in the contest, 7-0. Illinois-Chicago will open the weekend with a pair of matches up in Madison, Wis. on Feb. 2, taking on both Wisconsin and Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Northern Illinois will return to action Feb. 8 and 9 with contests down South at both SIU-Edwardsville and Saint Louis.