DePaul University Athletics
Saturday, March 6
Chicago, Ill.
5:15 P.M. CT
DePaul University
4
vs
2
Northern Illinois
Men's Tennis Earns Hard-Fought Win Over NIU
3/6/2021 9:57:00 PM | MEN'S TENNIS
DePaul takes down previously undefeated Huskies 4-2 Saturday night
CHICAGO – Northern Illinois came into Lakeshore Sport & Fitness Saturday night with a spotless 10-0 record.
The Huskies are headed back to DeKalb at 10-1 after DePaul put the only blemish on their 2021 resume with a pulsating 4-2 victory.
Getting his team mentally prepared for next month's BIG EAST tournament grind of high-intensity matches on three consecutive days, coach Matt Brother came up with a motivational ploy.
He told his players to treat this weekend's three matches in a row like the BIG EAST postseason. Friday was the quarterfinals, Saturday the semifinals and Sunday the championship.
By that strategy, the Blue Demons (5-2) won Friday's "quarterfinal" 7-0 over Cardinal Stritch and Saturday's "semifinal" began with a quick 2-0 lead.
The No. 1 doubles team of Christopher Casati and Boris Spanjaard clinched the doubles point beating Victor Spolidorio and Mikko Malinen 6-3. Earlier, Luuk Wassenaar and Vito Tonejc took down Oliver Valentinsson and Kristopher Ortega 6-2.
Casati opened singles play and put DePaul ahead 2-0 in match points with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Malinen at No. 3.
That's when NIU showed why it had won 10 in a row. The Huskies pulled even at 2-2 after winning singles matches at No. 5 and No. 6.
DePaul's No. 2 singles player Spanjaard put a damper on NIU's rally with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 decision over Ortega.
With Fran Tonejc trailing at No. 4 singles in a match that wound up unfinished, that left it all in the capable hands of No. 1 singles player Vito Tonejc. The 2019 BIG EAST Freshman of the Year lived up to the moment with a 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 win over NIU's best, Bor Schweiger Muzar.
"The guys played great doubles to put us up a point and take the early momentum in a hard-fought match," Brothers said. "Great leadership from our seniors.
"Chris Casati put us up 2-0 with a quick win at No. 3 and Boris got the job done at No. 2 against a very experienced opponent. Vito came through in the clutch to avenge his loss from last year.
"It was a great win, and I'm proud of our fight and belief in one another."
The Blue Demons will play at XS Tennis on the South Side Sunday against Drake with first serve set for 1:15 p.m.
DePaul 4, NIU 2
Lakeshore Sport & Fitness
March 6, 2021
Singles
1. Vito Tonejc (DPU) def. Bor Schweiger Muzar (NIU) 3-6, 6-3, 7-5
2. Boris Spanjaard (DPU) def. Kristopher Ortega (NIU) 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
3. Christopher Casati (DPU) def. Mikko Malinen (NIU) 6-3, 6-3
4. Victor Spolidorio (NIU) vs. Fran Tonejc (DPU) 6-7(11), 6-4, 4-1 (UNF)
5. Armin Koschtojan (NIU) def. Luuk Wassenaar (DPU) 2-6, 6-0, 6-4
6. Oliver Valentinsson (NIU) def. Tripp Tuff (DPU) 6-3, 5-7, 6-3
Doubles
1. Christopher Casati/Boris Spanjaard (DPU) def. Victor Spolidorio/Mikko Malinen (NIU) 6-3
2. Mikael Vollbach/Bor Schweiger Muzar (NIU) def. Tripp Tuff/Fran Tonejc (DPU) 6-2
3. Luuk Wassenaar/Vito Tonejc (DPU) def. Oliver Valentinsson/Kristopher Ortega (NIU) 6-2
The Huskies are headed back to DeKalb at 10-1 after DePaul put the only blemish on their 2021 resume with a pulsating 4-2 victory.
Getting his team mentally prepared for next month's BIG EAST tournament grind of high-intensity matches on three consecutive days, coach Matt Brother came up with a motivational ploy.
He told his players to treat this weekend's three matches in a row like the BIG EAST postseason. Friday was the quarterfinals, Saturday the semifinals and Sunday the championship.
By that strategy, the Blue Demons (5-2) won Friday's "quarterfinal" 7-0 over Cardinal Stritch and Saturday's "semifinal" began with a quick 2-0 lead.
The No. 1 doubles team of Christopher Casati and Boris Spanjaard clinched the doubles point beating Victor Spolidorio and Mikko Malinen 6-3. Earlier, Luuk Wassenaar and Vito Tonejc took down Oliver Valentinsson and Kristopher Ortega 6-2.
Casati opened singles play and put DePaul ahead 2-0 in match points with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Malinen at No. 3.
That's when NIU showed why it had won 10 in a row. The Huskies pulled even at 2-2 after winning singles matches at No. 5 and No. 6.
DePaul's No. 2 singles player Spanjaard put a damper on NIU's rally with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 decision over Ortega.
With Fran Tonejc trailing at No. 4 singles in a match that wound up unfinished, that left it all in the capable hands of No. 1 singles player Vito Tonejc. The 2019 BIG EAST Freshman of the Year lived up to the moment with a 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 win over NIU's best, Bor Schweiger Muzar.
"The guys played great doubles to put us up a point and take the early momentum in a hard-fought match," Brothers said. "Great leadership from our seniors.
"Chris Casati put us up 2-0 with a quick win at No. 3 and Boris got the job done at No. 2 against a very experienced opponent. Vito came through in the clutch to avenge his loss from last year.
"It was a great win, and I'm proud of our fight and belief in one another."
The Blue Demons will play at XS Tennis on the South Side Sunday against Drake with first serve set for 1:15 p.m.
DePaul 4, NIU 2
Lakeshore Sport & Fitness
March 6, 2021
Singles
1. Vito Tonejc (DPU) def. Bor Schweiger Muzar (NIU) 3-6, 6-3, 7-5
2. Boris Spanjaard (DPU) def. Kristopher Ortega (NIU) 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
3. Christopher Casati (DPU) def. Mikko Malinen (NIU) 6-3, 6-3
4. Victor Spolidorio (NIU) vs. Fran Tonejc (DPU) 6-7(11), 6-4, 4-1 (UNF)
5. Armin Koschtojan (NIU) def. Luuk Wassenaar (DPU) 2-6, 6-0, 6-4
6. Oliver Valentinsson (NIU) def. Tripp Tuff (DPU) 6-3, 5-7, 6-3
Doubles
1. Christopher Casati/Boris Spanjaard (DPU) def. Victor Spolidorio/Mikko Malinen (NIU) 6-3
2. Mikael Vollbach/Bor Schweiger Muzar (NIU) def. Tripp Tuff/Fran Tonejc (DPU) 6-2
3. Luuk Wassenaar/Vito Tonejc (DPU) def. Oliver Valentinsson/Kristopher Ortega (NIU) 6-2
Players Mentioned
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