Huskers to Open Conference Season this Weekend

Lincoln --The Nebraska women's tennis team will be looking to win their third straight match as they travel to Texas for a pair of matches. The Huskers will take on Sam Houston State on Friday, Feb. 19, at 1:30 p.m. On Saturday, Nebraska battles Texas A&M in the Huskers Big 12 conference opener at 1:30 pm. Both matches will be played in College Station, Texas.

Nebraska Head Coach Scott Jacobson is excited about traveling to College Station, which is the site of this year's Big 12 tournament.

"To be able to go down there and play at that site and on that surface will really help," Jacobson said. "I think the kids are excited to get a chance to play down there at their new facility."

The matchup with Sam Houston State will be the first time this spring that Nebraska will have played outdoors.

"I think it will be good for us to get our feet wet playing outdoors against Sam Houston State before we play Texas A&M," Jacobson said. "We are not overlooking Sam Houston State though, they are a good team."

Texas A&M is 2-0 on the year, picked up their second victory of the year last weekend, beating LSU, 5-4. They will be looking to avenge last season's 5-4 loss to the Huskers in Lincoln.

"Texas A&M is loaded, they are as strong as they were last year," said Jacobson. "They also have a new No. 1 or No. 2 singles player that has really helped them out. It will be a good test for us."

The trio of junior Sandra Noetzel, freshman Katarina Balan and sophomore Ndali Ijomah, Nebraska's top three singles players, will be key for the Huskers this weekend. Their combined record is 9-3 and five of the six players that have played for the Huskers have a .500 or better record.

NU will be without the services freshman Riva Wig. According to Jacobson, the earliest she could return is in four weeks. She is rehabing from knee surgury she had this fall.