April 3, 2004

NORTHERN ILLINOIS 7 BUFFALO 0

Singles
1. Willy Gali (NIU) def. Randy Rocchio (UB) 6-2, 6-0
2. Juan Pablo Barriga (NIU) def. Nick Zieziula (UB) 6-3, 6-2
3. Erick Martinez (NIU) def. Mike Rockman (UB) 6-0, 6-2
4. Jack Komar (NIU) def. Josh Liederman (UB) 6-3, 6-4
5. Aaron Forsberg (NIU) def. Rangga Prayudha (UB) 6-1, 6-1
6. Stephen Guntly (NIU) def. Joe Popielarczyk (UB) 6-1, 6-2

Doubles
1. Gali/Forsberg (NIU) def. Rocchio/Yules Hadisubroto (UB), 8-1
2. Barriga/Martinez (NIU) def. Zieziula/Albert Alant (UB), 8-4
3. Komar/Guntly (NIU) def. Liederman/Prayudha (UB), 8-4

RECORDS TO DATE: Northern Illinois now 13-3 (1-0 MAC), Buffalo now 7-10 (1-2 MAC)

NEXT HUSKIE MATCH: Sunday, April 4--- Northern Illinois at Western Michigan, Kalamazoo, MI, 1 p.m.

HUSKIES BLANK BULLS FOR EIGHTH CONSECUTIVE VICTORY, SET SIGHTS ON BRONCOS
DeKALB, IL--- No matter where they call home, the Northern Illinois University men's tennis team may as well hang a shingle outside denoting that visitors are not welcomed. Playing in gusting winds at NIU's Anderson Hall Courts, the Huskies blanked the University at Buffalo 7-0 on Saturday (April 3) in the squads' Mid-American Conference opener. The win is Northern Illinois' seventh home victory in seven tries and sixth shutout win at home this season. With the triumph, the Huskies move to 13-3 on the season, while the Bulls drop to 7-10, 1-2 in conference play.

In doubles, the Huskies took the point behind a trio of victories, the first being an 8-1 win by Willy Gali (Barcelona, Spain / les Avsias March) and Aaron Forsberg (Moline) in the top spot. At No. 2, Juan Pablo Barriga (Ario de Rosales Michoacan, Mexico / Colegio de Bachilleres del Estado de Michoacan) and Erick Martinez (Amargura, Mexico / Preparatario Abierta) teamed for an 8-4 win, while Jack Komar (Lake in the Hills / Crystal Lake South) and Stephen Guntly (Genoa City, WI / Badger) posted a victory by the same count at No. 3.

Northern Illinois found similar success in singles play, with Gali pushing his team-high win total to 22 with a 6-2, 6-0 win over Randy Rocchio. Barriga and Martinez posted victories in the second and third positions, with Komar tallying a 6-3, 6-4 win in the fourth slot. Komar's victory--his 20th of the season--makes him the first freshman since Peter Berka to reach the 20-win plateau. Berka posted 22 wins in the 1992-93 campaign. Forsberg and Guntly rounded out the Huskie scorecard with victories in the fifth and sixth slots.

Immediately following the victory, the Huskies hit the road to travel to Kalamazoo, MI, for a Sunday date with Western Michigan University. The Broncos, currently ranked No. 55 in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings, have dropped two straight matches, including a 7-0 loss to 43rd-ranked Minnesota on Friday (April 2). Western Michigan (13-6, 1-0 MAC) and Northern Illinois (13-3, 1-0 MAC) will meet on Sunday (April 4) at 1 p.m., weather permitting at Sorensen Courts.

---Copy by Matt Baylor