While it wasn’t quite the finish they were looking for, the men’s tennis Huskies managed to finish fifth at the GLIAC Championships over the weekend.

A loss to Wayne State was followed by wins over Tiffin and Findlay to secure the place and a chance at the large bid to the NCAA Tournament.

The fifth-seeded Huskies (9-9 overall) needed every doubles and singles match on Sunday to secure a 5-4 win over the seventh-seeded Findlay Oilers.

The Huskies struck first as sophomore Chris Verhulst and junior Tim Viola won at number three doubles, 8-4 over David Brooks and Nick Eby. The duo is now 12-6 on the season.

After the Oilers took the number two doubles match, senior Brett Girard and freshman Douglas Yossida earned a hard-fought 9-7 win over Kyle Collette and Jitrat Jaidee at number one doubles. The pair is now 11-7 on the season.

Verhulst scored another point for the Huskies with his win at number five singles over Brooks, 6-0, 6-1. Verhulst now has 13 wins on the season, the most by any Huskies singles player.

Senior Alan Parenteau put the Huskies within a point of winning the match with his victory at number six singles over Eby, 6-1, 6-4. Parenteau is now 8-2 on the campaign.

Girard, freshman Anders Sandholm and senior Brandon Ellefson all lost at numbers one, two and four singles, respectively, setting up the crucial point at number three singles.

Yossida needed just two sets to secure the win for the Huskies as he defeated Jaidee, 6-0, 6-3. With the win, Yossida improved to 7-7 on the season.

On Saturday, the Huskies first faced the fourth-seeded Wayne State Warriors, but couldn’t get any momentum going and surrendered five points to the Warriors while only securing one of their own.
Ellefson and Sandholm had the lone Huskies’ point as they were victorious over Johan Maubauq and Marlon Leone, 8-5, at number two doubles. The duo is 10-7 on the season.

Verhulst and Viola forced Eric Szydlowski and Michael Savalle into extra games, leading at one point 7-6, but couldn’t come away with the win, falling 7-9.

In the second match on Saturday, the Huskies cruised to a 5-0 win over ninth-seeded Tiffin.
Girard and Yossida defeated Harry Smith and Andreas Torres, 8-1, to start things off.

Ellefson and Sandholm earned an 8-2 win over Ryan Toporowsky and Matthew Weiss.
Verhulst and Viola won 8-2 over Preston Torbert and Bryan Heisler to complete the sweep at doubles.
In the singles matches, Yossida put the Huskies within a point of winning the match with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Toporowsky.

Sandholm finished the match for the Huskies by winning 6-3, 6-2 over Torres. Sandholm is 3-15 on the season.

The NCAA Tournament field will be announced on April 29.