The Northern Illinois University men’s tennis team fell 4-3 on the road to Ball State on Saturday afternoon.

In doubles, Iker Gaztambide Arrastia / Nikola Puntaric won 6-2 at No. 1 to move to 9-2 on the dual season. Lorenzo Leti Messina / Federico Scotuzzi swept 6-0 at No. 3 and now sit at 6-2 as a duo.

In singles, Puntaric (Ljubljana, Slovenia / Tulsa) had recorded a 6-2, 6-1 win over Andrei Caragea at No. 2. Scotuzzi (Bergamo, Italy / North Alabama) posted the other singles win for the Huskies, winning 7-5, 7-6 (7-1).

NIU will return to DeKalb for a five-match homestand, including three matches this week. The Huskies host Drake on Monday, March 16 then welcome a pair of conference opponents, beginning with Buffalo on Thursday, March 19 and Toledo on Saturday, March 21.

All three matches at the Nelson Tennis Center at Chick Evans Field House are free admission.