Mid-American Conference

MAC MEN'S TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP
2019 MAC Men's Tennis Championship Scoreboard: April 19-21 at Western Michigan University

2019 MAC Men's Tennis Championship Schedule
Friday, April 19
10:00 am ET     No. 3 Northern Illinois 4, No. 6 Binghamton 0
2:00 pm ET       No. 5 Ball State 4, No. 4 Toledo 0

Saturday, April 20
11:00 am ET     No. 1 Western Michigan 5, No. 5 Ball State 0
2:00 pm ET       No. 3 Northern Illinois 4, No. 2 Buffalo 2

Sunday, April 21
1:00 pm ET        No. 1 Western Michigan 4, No. 3 Northern Illinois 3

No. 1 Western Michigan defeats No. 3 Northern Illinois, 4-3
Broncos Claim MAC Championship With 4-3 Win Over NIU

KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The No. 1 seeded Western Michigan men's tennis team defeated No. 3 seed Northern Illinois University 4-3 to capture its second consecutive Mid-American Conference Championship and 13th in program history on Sunday afternoon at Sorensen Courts. 

The Broncos spared no theatrics, going up 3-0 before allowing the Huskies to roar back and tie the match. Freshman Peter Kuszynski clinched the victory at court five in a third-set tiebreaker over Mikko Malinen, 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 (3). 

"We've had a lot of dramatic wins over the years, and this one ranks right up there," said head coach Dave Morin, who earned his 13th MAC Tournament Title at the helm. "Peter has been money for us."

WMU took the doubles point with wins on courts one and three from Opitz/Nouchi and Haupt/Schnobel and carried the momentum into the singles. Opitz and Haupt were first off the court with 6-3, 6-3 wins each to give the Brown & Gold a 3-0 advantage. 

NIU didn't languish, however, taking the Broncos into third sets in each remaining match and eventually winning at courts two, six, and four to knot the match at 3-3. Kuszynski's heroics in the tie break then sent the Broncos dancing into the NCAA Tournament while he was award the Tournament's Most Outstanding Player. 

2019 MAC Men's Tennis All-Tournament Team:
Marko Guzina – Ball State University
Hao Sheng Koay – University at Buffalo
Victor Spolidorio – Northern Illinois University
Bor Schweiger Muzar – Northern Illinois University
Lenhard Haupt – Western Michigan University
Petre Kuszynski – Western Michigan University
 
Tournament Most Outstanding Player: Peter Kuszynski – Western Michigan University

FINAL SCORE:  Western Michigan 4, Northern Illinois 3
Singles competition
1. Jannik Opitz (WMU) def. Eric Marbach (NIU) 6-3, 6-3
2. Bor Schweiger Muzar (NIU) def. Kennosuke Nouchi (WMU) 7-5, 2-6, 6-2
3. Lenhard Haupt (WMU) def. David Pata (NIU) 6-3, 6-3
4. Kristopher Ortega (NIU) def. Matej Svjetlicic (WMU) 2-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3
5. Peter Kuszynski (WMU) def. Mikko Malinen (NIU) 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3)
6. Victor Spolidorio (NIU) def. Jack Randall (WMU) 6-3, 3-6, 6-1

Doubles competition
1. Jannik Opitz/Kennosuke Nouchi (WMU) def. Mikko Malinen/Victor Spolidorio (NIU) 6-1
2. Peter Kuszynski/Jack Randall (WMU) vs. David Pata/Bor Schweiger Muzar (NIU) 6-6, unfinished
3. Lenhard Haupt/Nick Schnobel (WMU) def. Eric Marbach/Kristopher Ortega (NIU) 6-4

Match Notes: Northern Illinois 12-14; Western Michigan 18-8; Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (3,1,2,6,4,5)