Men's Tennis Faces NIU On Friday

KALAMAZOO, Mich.- The Western Michigan men's tennis team (13-4) returns home for its first Mid-American Conference home match of the season against Northern Illinois on Friday, March 23 starting at 1:00 p.m. Depending on weather, the match will either be played indoors at West Hills or out on the Sorensen Courts. Admission to all home tennis matches is free.

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The Broncos kicked off the MAC season with two victories last weekend against Toledo (6-1) and Buffalo (5-2). Maik Steiner, Jannik Opitz, Lenhard Haupt and Matej Svjetlicic all went 2-0 in singles during the weekend. In doubles, the duo of Eric Olivarez and Nick Schnobel also went 2-0 to help the Broncos win both doubles points.

Northern Illinois is 12-5 on the season and is also 2-0 in the conference with wins over Binghamton (6-1) and Ball State (5-2). The Brown & Gold have beaten NIU two straight seasons with a combined score of 13-1.

Steiner (22-9) is currently ranked No. 123 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Singles Rankings and rides a two-match win
streak into Friday. Opitz has the second most dual match wins with a 11-4 record and is on a four-match winning streak while Svjetlicic leads the Broncos in victories with a 23-6 overall record on the year and has won his last seven matches.

In doubles, WMU is 30-18 during the dual match season with the combination of Olivarez and Schnobel leading the way with an 8-3 record. At the one position, Opitz and Steiner have the most wins of a Bronco duo with a 3-2 record.

WMU's next action will be against Illinois-Chicago and Wayne State on Tuesday, March 27 at either Sorensen Courts or West Hills Athletic Club depending on the weather.

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Players Mentioned

Eric Olivarez: 5' 10"; Junior

Jannik Opitz: 6' 4"; Sophomore

Nick Schnobel: 5' 11"; Junior

Maik Steiner: 6' 2"; Senior

Matej Svjetlicic: 6' 1"; Junior

Lenhard Haupt: 6' 3"; Junior

Players Mentioned

Eric Olivarez
: 5' 10"; Junior

Jannik Opitz
: 6' 4"; Sophomore

Nick Schnobel
: 5' 11"; Junior

Maik Steiner
: 6' 2"; Senior

Matej Svjetlicic
: 6' 1"; Junior

Lenhard Haupt
: 6' 3"; Junior