Feb. 10, 2008

Rockford, Ill.  - On the brink of defeat, Illinois State freshman Filip Milijevic rallied from a 5-4 third set deficit to Northern Illinois' Javier Bernabe (Segovia, Spain/IES Mariano Quintanilla) to earn the 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 victory at No. 6 singles to help the Redbirds secure the 4-3 non-conference victory over the Huskies at the Clock Tower Racquet Club on Sunday afternoon.

With the victory, Illinois State improves to 2-3 on the season, while the Huskies fall to 2-3 on the campaign.

NIU jumped to an early 3-0 lead after winning the doubles' point, including wins at No. 1 and No. 2 singles by junior Brian Livingston (Skokie, Ill./Niles North) and senior Alex Friesen (Vancouver, British Columbia/Burnaby Central).

Livingston paired with Adam Ford (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Central) at No. 1 doubles to defeat ISU's Daniel Tobar and Luke Marinkovic, 8-4. Friesen teamed up with Jimmy Chu (Lima, Peru/San Augustin) at No. 2 doubles for the 8-4 triumph over Nuno Jacinto and Xavier Riart-Ferrer.

Following Friesen's 6-2, 6-1 win over Jacinto at No. 2 singles, the Redbirds rallied with four straight victories, culminating with Milijevic's come-from-behind victory over Bernabe.

Northern Illinois head men's tennis coach Pontus Hiort was disappointed in the result, but knows his team has the ability to rebound from this defeat.

"We just need everyone to show up on the same day," Hiort said.

NIU will be back in action on Saturday, February 16, as the Huskies travel to Terre Haute, Indiana to square off with the Indiana State Sycamores. First set is slated for 3 p.m. (CST).

MEN'S TENNIS

Illinois State 4, Northern Illinois 3

Clock Tower Racquet Club

Rockford, Ill. * February 10, 2008

Doubles

No. 1 - Adam Ford/Brian Livingston (NIU) def. Daniel Tobar/Luka Marinkovic (ISU), 8-4

No. 2 - Alex Friesen/Jimmy Chu (NIU) def. Nuno Jacinto/Xavier Riart-Ferrer (ISU), 8-4

No. 3 - Oscar Beich/Michael Hobson (ISU) def. Alfonso Monroy/Matt Hansen (NIU), 8-6

Singles

No. 1 - Brian Livingston (NIU) def. Luka Marinkovic (ISU), 6-2, 6-2

No. 2 - Alex Friesen (NIU) def. Nuno Jacinto (ISU), 6-2, 6-1

No. 3 - Oscar Beich (ISU) def. Adam Ford (NIU), 6-4, 6-3

No. 4 - Xavier Riart-Ferrer (ISU) def. Jimmy Chu (NIU), 6-1, 6-4

No. 5 - Daniel Tobar (ISU) def. Matt Hansen (NIU), 7-6, 6-3

No. 6 - Filip Milijevic (ISU) def. Javier Bernabe (NIU), 6-2, 2-6, 7-5

##NIU##