Huskers Fall in First Dual of Season

Wichita, Kan. -- The University of Nebraska Men's tennis team were narrowly defeated by the Wichita State Shockers yesterday, Feb. 3. The Huskers fell 4-3 and are now 0-1 on the season.

Nebraska's three wins all came in the top three singles spots. Senior Lance Mills defeated Mark Sewell, 6-3, 6-3, at the No. 1 position. At the No. 2 spot, junior Jacek Wolicki defeated Jaime Rodriguez, 6-7 (10), 6-4, 6-3, while freshman Jose Hernan took the No. 3 singles match, 6-3, 6-0, against Ben Cramp.

Senior Fungai Tongoona lost to Joggen Austin, 4-6, 5-7, at the No. 4 position and redshirt freshman Jose Rivera fell to Juan Escalante, 7-6 (9), 3-6, 4-6 at the No. 6 spot.

Freshman Joel Reckewey, who played in the No. 5 position, lost a heartbreaker to Wichita State's Carlo Contente. Reckewey won the first set 6-2. In the second set, Reckewey and Contente fought a hard tie-breaker with Reckewey having two match-point opportunities. Contente overcame the deficit to win the second set, 7-6 (9) and took the third set, 6-2. The win by Contente was the deciding factor in the Huskers' spring debut.
The Shockers took all three doubles matches. Sewell/Rodriguez defeated Hernan/Tongoona, 2-8, at the No. 1 doubles position to give Wichita State the only doubles point of the dual.

In other doubles matches, Mills/Rivera fell to Austin/Contente, 6-8, and Wolicki and junior Jeff Nabity lost to Cramp/Escalante, 8-9 (4).

The Huskers are next in action this weekend when they take on two non-conference opponents. Friday, Feb. 8, the Huskers face the Iowa Hawkeyes at 7 p.m. On Saturday, Feb. 9, Nebraska will take on the Rice Owls, who are currently ranked No. 36, at 3 p.m. Both matches will be played at the Woods Indoor Tennis Center.