Men’s Tennis Falls in MAC Semifinals as Huskies Prepare for Western Michigan Showdown

Northern Illinois University’s men’s tennis team advanced to the Mid-American Conference tournament championship match after defeating second-seeded Western Michigan University in the semifinals on April 18, 2026, at the Midvale Tennis Center in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

The Huskies, entering the match as the No. 3 seed, secured a 4-2 victory over the Broncos to earn their first MAC final appearance since 2019. The win ended Western Michigan’s hopes of defending its conference title and shifted the momentum in the league standings, with Northern Illinois moving into a tie for second place in the MAC East division.

Match Summary and Key Performances

Northern Illinois clinched the doubles point early, with the pairing of senior captain Mateo Rojas and junior Lucas Durand winning 6-3, 6-4 at No. 1 doubles. The Broncos responded by taking the No. 2 and No. 3 doubles matches, but the Huskies’ resilience in singles play proved decisive.

Singles Results and Turning Points

In singles action, Northern Illinois won four of the six matches. Mateo Rojas claimed a 7-5, 6-3 victory at No. 1 singles over Western Michigan’s top player, Ethan Voigt. Lucas Durand followed with a 6-4, 7-5 win at No. 2 singles against Mateo Salazar. Freshman standout Daniel Ortiz contributed a 6-2, 6-3 triumph at No. 4 singles, while senior transfer Amir Khan sealed the clinching point with a 6-4, 6-2 win at No. 5 singles.

Western Michigan’s Efforts and Season Context

Western Michigan avoided a sweep by winning the No. 3 and No. 6 singles matches. Senior captain Jacob Lowell defeated Northern Illinois’ Daniel Ortiz in a third-set tiebreaker, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(5), while underclassman Isaiah Reed won 6-3, 6-4 at No. 6 singles against Northern Illinois’ backup player, Tomas Varga.

The loss marked Western Michigan’s first semifinal defeat in the MAC tournament since 2021 and ended their bid for a third consecutive conference title. The Broncos entered the match ranked No. 2 in the MAC and had won 11 of their last 12 conference duals.

Northern Illinois’ Path to the Final

Northern Illinois reached the semifinals by defeating seventh-seeded Ball State University 4-1 in the opening round on April 17. The Huskies had entered the tournament with an 8-5 record in MAC play, earning the No. 3 seed after a strong finish to the regular season that included wins over Toledo and Eastern Michigan.

The team’s success has been driven by a balanced lineup featuring four seniors and two underclassmen who have combined for a 22-11 record in dual matches this season. Head coach Rafael Mendez praised the team’s composure under pressure, noting their ability to win close sets throughout the tournament.

Championship Match Outlook

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.

As of the 2026 season, Northern Illinois holds a 15-8 overall record and has shown improvement in both doubles and singles consistency over the second half of the conference schedule. The team’s performance in the MAC tournament has positioned it as a contender for one of the league’s top seeds in next year’s tournament.