Huskers Fall to Kansas

Lincoln, Neb. - The No. 69 Nebraska men's tennis team suffered two losses Satuday afternoon. Kansas defeated the Huskers, 6-1, and No. 1 singles player Juan Hamdan failed to finish his match after a sprained ankle. This loss leaves the Huskers 5-4 overall and 0-3 in the Big 12 conference.

The Huskers began the day slowly by losing the doubles point. Nebraska men's tennis coach, Kerry McDermott thought the pairs played close, but seemed tentative during the big points. The teams of Jorge Abos Sanchez/Juan Hamdan, Kai Rieke/AndrewWiese, and Ryan Haith/Adnan Hadzialic each lost, 8-6, 9-8, and 8-6.

McDermott said the doubles point was the most important part of the day. 'The doubles matches were really the determining point, it seemed to give Kansas the momentum going into singles.'

During Hamdan's first appearance as the Huskers' No. 1 singles player, he was forced to retire with a sprained ankle. He was playing No. 98 singles in the nation, Rodrigo Echagaray. Abos Sanchez was the only victor for Nebraksa defeating Eleazar Magallan, 6-3, 6-1. Hadzialic and Tongoona both took their matches to three sets before losing to Alex Barragan and Pete Stroer. McDermott pointed out Kansas' focused attack as one reason for the loss, 'Kansas played smarter at times, while we played some care-free tennis.'

Nebraska will have another chance to claim its first conference win this Monday, March 13 at the Woods Tennis Center at 1 p.m. against the University of Texas.

Nebraska (5-5)		6
Kansas (4-6)		1
Singles
No. 1	Rodrigo Echagaray (KU) def. Juan Hamdan (NU)	6-1, (retired)
No. 2	Jorge Abos Sanchez (NU) def. Eleazar Magallan	6-3, 6-1
No. 3	Alex Barragan (KU) def. Adnan Hadzialic (NU)	2-6, 6-3, 6-2
No. 4	Quentin Blakeney (KU def. Kai Rieke (NU)	7-5, 6-2
No. 5	Pete Stroer (KU) def. Fungai Tongoona (NU)	4-6, 6-4, 6-4
No. 6	Ed Dus (KU) def. Andrew Wiese (NU)	6-1, 6-4
Doubles
No. 1	Dus-Echagaray (KU) def. Abos Sanchez-Hamdan (NU)	8-6
No. 2	Magallan-Barragan (KU) def. Wiese-Rieke (NU)	9-8
No. 3	Blakeney-Stroer (KU) def. Haith-Hadzialic (NU)	8-6