Huskers Drop 5-2 Decision to No. 36 Rice Owls

Lincoln, Neb. -- The Nebraska men's tennis team fell to the No. 36 ranked Rice Owls (1-0; 0-0 WAC), Saturday afternoon, 2-5.

The Huskers, now 0-3 on the season, faces numerous challenges throughout the day. Freshman Jose Rivera was playing with a sore back and later on, while three singles matches were still in play, the lights went out at the Woods Tennis Center.

In doubles, senior Fungai Tongoona and freshman Jose Hernan, ranked ninth in the region at doubles, defeated Cody Jackson and Take Morita at the No. 3 position, 8-4, to take the only doubles win of the night. Lance Mills and Jacek Wolicki fell to Matthias Mathaes and Prakash Venkataraman at the No. 1 spot, 5-8, while the duo of Jeff Nabity and Jose Rivera lost to William Barker and Fabien Giraud, 2-8, at No. 2 doubles.

In singles action, Mills and Hernan pulled out the only two points for Nebraska with wins over Barker and Jackson, respectively. Mills defeated Barker at the No. 1 spot, 6-4, 5-7, 7-5. Hernan, the only player on the team to start the season undefeated at 3-0, overpowered Jackson at the No. 3 position, 6-4, 6-4.

Joel Reckewey and Rivera both lost in straight sets at the No. 5 and No. 6 spots, respectively. Reckewey fell to Giraud, 3-6, 6-7, while Rivera lost to Morita, 4-6, 4-6. Mills, Wolicki and Tongoona were all playing when the lights went out at the indoor courts, causing a 30-minute delay. Mills was the only one to go on to victory. Wolicki lost to Matheas at the No. 2 position, 6-1, 1-6, 2-6. Tongoona fell to Venkataraman, 6-4, 1-6, 4-6, at the No. 4 spot.

The Husker men are next in action against Creighton, Sunday, Feb. 17. Doubles matches start at 3 p.m. at Woods Tennis Center, followed by singles play.