CLEVELAND – Sophomore Mikko Malinen was named Mid-American Conference Singles Player of the Week while junior Kristopher Ortega and sophomore Oliver Valentinsson claimed MAC Doubles Team of the Week honors as the Northern Illinois University men’s tennis team swept the conference weekly accolades that were announced on Wednesday (March 17).
Malinen went a perfect 2-0 to begin conference play, clinching NIU’s win over Ball State with a three-set victory in the deciding match. The Malmo, Sweden native began the week with a with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Thawin Suksathaporn of Toledo in a 6-1 Huskie victory over the Rockets before scoring a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 win against Ball State’s Chris Adams in the final match to finish, giving NIU a 4-3 win. With his two victories this week, Malinen improved to 7-4 overall this season.
Ortega and Valentinsson went 3-0 for the week, helping NIU to a trio of victories. In the first match of the week against Chicago State, Ortega and Valentinsson defeated Jakub Zamorski and Pedja Kolaric, 6-3. The Huskie duo then opened league play with a 6-4 win over Toledo’s Luis Kleinschnitz and Max Skaer before posting a 6-2 win over Eli Herran and Bryce Bonin of Ball State to finish the week 3-0. For the season, Ortega and Valentinsson have an 11-2 record.
This is the second time this season that NIU has swept the conference weekly tennis awards. On February 24, Valentinsson was named MAC Singles Player of the Week while freshman Mikael Vollbach and senior Bor Schweiger Muzar claimed Doubles Team of the Week recognition following a week in which the Huskies scored wins over Marquette and Drake.
NIU has a 13-1 overall record this season, including a 2-0 mark in league play. The Huskies play their first two home matches in conference this weekend when they host Buffalo on Friday, March 19 and Binghamton on Sunday, March 21.