July 8, 2010

DEKALB, Ill. - Northern Illinois head men's tennis coach Patrick Fisher announced Thursday the signing of Ukranian native Maksym Lagutin, who will start his four-year eligibility with the Huskies beginning in the Fall 2010 season.

"We're excited to add a player of Maksym's ability to our team," said Fisher. "He embodies all the things we look for in our program - Maksym is a good student, has the high level of skill that is necessary to be successful at the Division I level, and has great character. He really fits the mold of what we're trying to establish here with the guys we brought in last season, and also of Matt Goralka, who we signed in January.

"One thing that is going to be a great advantage for him is his maturity as a tennis player," Fisher added. "He's played all over the world, and comes in with a lot of international experience. He really moves well, and has a big forehand. Maksym has wins over players that have been ranked in the top-200 of the ITF rankings, so he used to the competition. His biggest challenge will be getting adjusted to college team tennis."

Lagutin, a 5-foot-10 right-hander, represents the fifth player that Fisher has inked since taking over the reins at NIU, and the second player from Ukraine. Maksym Bartiuk, the Huskies' top singles player and the Mid-American Conference Newcomer of the Year in 2010, is also a native of Ukraine.

Lagutin, who graduated from high school in June 2009, has been ranked as the top junior in Ukraine, and climbed as high as No. 388 in the International Tennis Federation (ITF) rankings. He has played on predominately clay and hard court surfaces, and competed in 10 different countries since September 2008.

Lagutin joins January signee and Chicago native Matt Goralka, on the 2010-11 recruiting class. The Huskies will return five-of their top singles players from the 2009-10 campaign next season.