DEKALB, IL – The Judson University men's tennis team traveled to DeKalb this past Saturday to challenge a formidable Northern Illinois University squad at the Chick Evans Field House. While the final 4–0 score went in favor of the Huskies, the Eagles showed competitive resilience across several courts against the Mid-American Conference leaders.

The afternoon began with a doubles session where NIU managed to pull ahead for the opening point. However, the Eagles' No. 2 pairing of Joshua Bavich and Brock Dawson held their own, maintaining a 4–3 lead when the doubles point was clinched elsewhere and play was halted.

The intensity continued into singles play, where Judson pushed for every game. At the No. 6 position, Cesar Otondo Villafan played a balanced match against Gustavo Juarez Lopez, splitting sets with a 4–6, 6–2 scoreline before the match was left unfinished. At the No. 3 spot, Nicolas Donoso fought through a high-stakes first-set tiebreaker before eventually falling 7–6, 6–2. Further up the lineup, Luca Zandboer Bartolome held a 2–1 lead at the No. 4 position when play was stopped, and Brayden Kopp was locked in a 1–1 deadlock in the first set at the top flight.

These performances against a high-caliber NIU program provide a solid benchmark for the Eagles as they transition into the most critical part of their schedule. With the non-conference slate concluding, Judson now turns its full focus toward the start of the conference season. The Eagles will look to carry this experience into their conference opener against St. Ambrose next Friday, determined to set the tone for the conference season ahead.