The Broncos finished the regular season with a perfect 9-0 record in conference play, securing the MAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
The match was deadlocked at 3-3 and came down to No. 2 singles between WMU's Peter Kuszynski and NIU's Kristopher Ortega. The two were battling in their third set and were tied 3-3. Kuszynski went ahead 5-3 but Ortega won the next game to make it 5-4. The junior from Markham, Ontario then finished off the game, the set and the match.
"We knew today's match would be a big challenge from a very well-coached NIU Squad and that it would take a total team effort," said head coach Dave Morin, who coached the Broncos to his 11th regular season MAC title and third in a row. "Coach Payne and I are extremely proud of this group and the hard work they've put in all year. They were rewarded for their dedication today with a close 4-3 decision."
The match opened in dramatic fashion with the Huskies earning the doubles point. Mikael Vollbach and Bor Schweiger Muzar won 6-4 at No. 1 over the Bronco duo of Jannik Opitz and Zac Faveri. Jack Randall and Fynn Lohse stayed undefeated in doubles play after a 7-6 (7-5) win over Victor Spolidorio and Mikko Malinen to tie it up at 1-1. Ortega and Oliver Valentinsson defeated Kuszynski and Joaquin Caballer in a marathon tie-breaker match at 7-6 (15-13) to secure the Huskies the doubles point.
Western Michigan had already secured a share of the MAC title heading into the match and needed to score just one point to hold the potential tie-breaker over Northern Illinois for the MAC's automatic bid for the NCAA Tournament. The Broncos got that point early as Opitz made quick work of Schweiger Muzar at No. 1 singles, winning 6-2, 6-3 to tie the match up at 1-1. Lohse put the Broncos ahead 2-1 with a win at No. 4 over Valentinsson, 6-3, 6-0. Malinen won at No. 3 over WMU's Jackson Boone 6-4, 7-6 to tie it up at 2-2 before freshman Benjamin George won at No. 6 over Spolidorio 7-6 (7-2), 6-2. The win gave George an 11-0 regular season record in singles play, the only player on team to play in five or more matches and finish undefeated.
After George's win the Huskies tied it back up at 3-3 with Vollbach defeating Arjun Honnappa in three sets at No. 5 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, setting up the dramatic finish between Kuszynski and Ortega.
"It's been a rollercoaster ride the past 13 months," Morin added. "I want to thank the state of Michigan and our governor's leadership, the Kalamazoo County Health Department, and all those within our university and our athletic department that made this season possible for us and provided a sense of normalcy for our student-athletes."
The Broncos must wait for the NCAA Selection show on Monday, May 3 at 6:30 p.m. to find out where they will head.
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Broncos Claim MAC Regular Season Championship - WMUBroncos.com
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