Noetzel Awaits NCAA Individual Bid

Lincoln - Junior Sandra Noetzel awaits an individual bid to the 1999 NCAA Championships in Gainesville, Fla., May 24-28. On Friday, May 7, the NCAA sends out invitations for the national indiviual tournament to the top four players in each region. Noetzel, who is a part of the central region, compiled a 30-8 overall record this year, including an 18-2 mark against regional opponents. The Hannover, Germany native, won 15 consecutive matches during the spring season, including a 6-3, 6-7, 6-2, win over No. 22 Kris Sell of Kansas on April 3.

If Noetzel were to make the individual tournament, she would be the first Husker to ever qualify. Earlier this year, Noetzel posted her 75th career win to become the all-time winningest singles player in Nebraska history, passing former Husker Iidiko Guba. Noetzel's carreer mark is now 77-33.

Huskers Go 1-1 in Big 12 Tournament
The Nebraska women's tennis team, the No. 8 seed, advanced in the first round of the Big 12 Tennis Championships with a 5-2 victory over No. 9-seeded Kansas State at the Texas A&M Varsity Tennis Courts on Thursday.

In singles, junior Sandra Noetzel had her 15-match win streak at the No. 1 singles position snapped, losing to Anna Pampoulova, 6-3, 6-2. At No. 2, freshman Katarina Balan came away with a victory over Alena Jecminkova, 7-5, 7-5. At No. 3, sophomore Ndali Ijomah breezed through her match with Kathy Chuda, winning 6-3, 6-3. At the No. 4 and 5 positions, both junior Gina Pelazini and freshman Amy Frisch came back after dropping their first sets to win their matches in three sets. Pelazini defeated Eva Novatna, 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, and Frisch beat Natalia Farmer, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Heading into doubles, NU had a 4-2 advantage, needing just one of the three doubles points. That point came from the No. 1 duo of Noetzel and Pelazini, who dominated their match with Pampoulova and Vesselina Jeliaskova, winning 8-1.

"I was really proud of the effort our kids gave today," Nebraska Coach Scott Jacobson said. "They beat us convincingly earlier this season (KSU 6, NU 3), and to win 5-2 is a tribute to our player's determination."

On Friday, NU was knocked out of the 1999 Big 12 Tennis Championships by No. 1-seeded Texas. The Longhorns, who are ranked seventh in the nation, took five quick singles points from NU on their way to winning their third Big 12 title.

The Huskers finish the regular season with a 17-9 record, their third consecutive winning season under Head Coach Scott Jacobson.