Husker Men's Tennis Team Has Tough Start to Fall Season

Tallahassee, Fla. -- The Nebraska men's tennis team opened the 2003 fall season this weekend in Tallahassee, Fla., playing at the Seminole Fall Classic. The tournament is set up as a hidden dual, with schools competing as full teams, but team scores will not be recorded, only individual results.

Nebraska found tough luck on Friday in the season opener. The Huskers, who were coming off a 10-11 season in the spring, dropped five of six singles matches against Florida A&M, including two that went to a third set. Joel Reckewey had the toughest outing, falling to Zurah Zhavnia of FAMU in three sets, including a 13-11 tie-breaker in the second set that gave Zhavnia a 7-6 victory before Zhavnia put away the match 1-0 (10-5) in the third. Jeff Nabity also felt the hard luck as he won the first set against Yves Sinson, 6-4, before dropping the second, 7-5, and falling in a tough third set, 1-0 (10-6).

NU's lone victory on the day came at the No. 5 singles slot. Freshman Justin Junck, a late summer signee who was playing in his first collegiate match, went the distance to outlast Errol Tshabe of Florida A&M, winning the match in three sets. Junck took the first set in dominating fashion, 6-2, before falling off in the second as Tshabe bounced back for the 6-3 victory. In the tie-breaker, Junck picked the intensity back up and registered a 1-0 (10-5) victory to take the match.

In other action Friday, the Huskers narrowly missed out on three doubles victories. Ryan Jay and Jeff Nabity, playing at the No. 3 spot, fell in a final game tie-breaker, losing 9-8 (7-1) to Tshabe and Jarell Williams. Joerg Barthel and Jose Rivera dropped a tight 9-7 match to Frank Green and Pfungwa Maefu at No. 1 doubles, while Junck and Joel Reckewey were stopped 8-6 by Yves Sinson and Zurah Zhvania at the No. 2 position.

Returning to action Saturday against host Florida State, NU found the going just as rough, as the Huskers dropped all six singles contests and three doubles matches. Jose Rivera, playing at the No. 3 singles slot, nearly pulled out a win, as he took the first set, 7-5, against Jonathas Sucupira before being pushed to three sets. Rivera dropped the final two, 6-0 and 6-1.

The Huskers return to action on Sunday, Sept. 21, for their final match of the weekend. NU will take on Middle Tennessee State at 8 a.m.

Seminole Fall Classic
Sept. 19, 2003, at Tallahassee, Fla.
Nebraska vs. Florida A&M

Doubles
No. 1 Frank Green/Pfungwa Maefu (FAMU) def. Joerg Barthel/Jose Rivera (NU), 9-7
No. 2 Yves Sinson/Zurah Zhvania (FAMU) def. Justin Junck/Joel Reckewey (NU), 8-6
No. 3 Errol Tshabe/Jarell Williams (FAMU) def. Ryan Jay/Jeff Nabity (NU), 9-8 (7-1)

Singles
No. 1 Maefu (FAMU) def. Barthel (NU), 7-5, 7-5
No. 2 Zhvania (FAMU) def. Reckewey (NU), 3-6, 7-6 (13-11), 1-0 (10-5)
No. 3 Sinson (FAMU) def. Nabity (NU), 6-4, 5-7, 1-0 (10-6)
No. 4 Green (FAMU) def. Rivera (NU), 6-1, 6-4
No. 5 Junck (NU) def. Tshabe (FAMU), 6-3, 3-6, 1-0 (10-7)
No. 6 Williams (FAMU) def. Jay (NU), 6-2, 6-4

Seminole Fall Classic
Sept. 20, 2003, at Tallahassee, Fla.
Nebraska vs. Florida State

Doubles
No. 1 Jeff Groslimond/Chris Westerhof (FSU) def. Joerg Barthel/Jose Rivera (NU), 8-1
No. 2 Jarrod Owen/Chip Webb (FSU) def. Justin Junck/Joel Reckewey (NU), 8-4
No. 3 Jonathas Sucupira/Joao Paolo Bounassar (FSU) def. Ryan Jay/Jeff Nabity (NU), 8-6

Singles
No. 1 Webb (FSU) def. Barthel (NU), 7-5, 6-2
No. 2 Groslimond (FSU), def. Reckewey (NU), 6-0, 6-2
No. 3 Westerhof (FSU) def. Nabity (NU), 6-1, 7-6 (8-6)
No. 4 Sucupira (FSU) def. Rivera (NU), 5-7, 6-0, 6-1
No. 5 Bounassar (FSU) def. Junck (NU), 6-2, 6-1
No. 6 Owen (FSU) def. Jay (NU), 6-2, 6-2
No. 7 Joe Bassett (FSU) def. Tanner Gates (NU), 6-3