Huskies Advance to MAC Men's Tennis Final After Defeating Broncos

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Northern Illinois University's men's tennis team defeated second-seeded Western Michigan University 4-2 in the Mid-American Conference tournament semifinals on April 18, 2026. The Huskies, seeded third, clinched the doubles point early and then won four of the six singles matches to earn their first MAC final appearance since 2019, ending Western Michigan's bid for a third consecutive conference title.

Why it matters

The victory shifts the momentum in the MAC East division, with Northern Illinois moving into a tie for second place in the standings. The Huskies' strong tournament performance has positioned them as a contender for one of the league's top seeds next season.

The details

In doubles play, the pairing of Northern Illinois senior captain Mateo Rojas and junior Lucas Durand won 6-3, 6-4 at No. 1 doubles to give the Huskies the early advantage. Western Michigan responded by taking the No. 2 and No. 3 doubles matches, but Northern Illinois' resilience in singles proved decisive. Rojas, Durand, freshman Daniel Ortiz, and senior transfer Amir Khan all won their singles matches to clinch the 4-2 victory for the Huskies.

• The semifinal match took place on April 18, 2026 at the Midvale Tennis Center in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
• Northern Illinois had defeated seventh-seeded Ball State University 4-1 in the opening round on April 17.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Northern Illinois will face the winner of the other semifinal between top-seeded Miami University and fourth-seeded Kent State University in the MAC championship match on April 19, 2026, also held at the Midvale Tennis Center. A victory would give the Huskies their first MAC men's tennis title since 2017 and secure an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Men's Tennis Championship.