Huskers Open Fall Season at Drake

The Nebraska tennis team competes for the first time this fall Oct. 17-19 when it travels to Drake University for the Lloyd Stokstad Invitational. Individuals from seven teams will compete in the event, including Drake, Illinois-Chicago, Northern Iowa, Colorado State and Iowa State.

NU will take six of the nine players on its 2003-04 roster to Drake, as Jennifer Cremieux, Katie Garcia and Gitte Ostermann will miss the meet. Ostermann recently returned to Lincoln after a week-long trip to Pacific Palisades, Calif., for the Riviera/ITA Women's All-American Championships. Ostermann went 8-1 with four wins over ranked opponents en route to winning the consolation bracket.

"We're just really excited to get out there and compete," NU Coach Scott Jacobson said. "I think we'll really be able to see our progress and improvements."

Following the Drake tournament, NU will compete at the ITA Central Region Championships in Salt Lake City, Utah, Oct. 22-26.

The Huskers return eight letterwinners from last season's team that went 12-11 and finished No. 76 in the ITA rankings. Jacobson enters his 13th season at the helm.

Ostermann Finishes 8-1 at All-American Championships
Junior Gitte Ostermann defeated Denver's Suzana Maksovic, 6-1, 6-2, on Oct. 10 to win the consolation bracket of the prestigious Riviera/ITA Women's All-American Championships. Ostermann's finish was the best ever by a Husker at the tournament. She ended the event with an 8-1 record, including four victories over ranked opponents.

"I think this really shows that Gitte is one of the best players in the country," NU Coach Scott Jacobson said. "To win eight of nine matches at this premier tournament and only drop three sets is amazing. If she can stay healthy, I think she is going to have a remarkable season."

Ostermann, a junior from Luneberg, Germany, also defeated 97th-ranked Maja Kovacek of Maryland, 7-5, 6-2, 48th-ranked Melissa Applebaum of Miami and Harvard's Eva Wang, who is ranked No. 51 nationally.

Nebraska Features Experienced Squad in 2003-04
The 2003-04 Huskers will feature eight returning letterwinners from a 2003 squad that went 12-11 and finished the season ranked No. 76 in the ITA rankings. Nebraska will be led by junior Gitte Ostermann, who posted an 8-6 record in 2003, including a 6-5 mark at No. 1 singles, despite playing most of the season with injuries. Ostermann earned All-Big 12 Conference honors last season, becoming the first Husker to win the award since Gina Pelazini and Sandra Noetzel in 2000.

The Huskers also return a solid group of seniors in Leslie Harvey, Rebecca Harvey, Rose Ketmayura and Anna Oehme. Leslie Harvey finished the season with a 9-12 singles record while competing primarily at the No. 2-3 spots. Ketmayura went 8-12, including a 2-2 mark at No. 2 singles. Oehme contributed at the 3-5 spots and recorded a 14-6 record, the best singles mark of any Husker. Rebecca Harvey went 10-5 while playing mostly in the bottom half of the lineup.

Other returning letterwinners include junior Katie Garcia and sophomores Pamela Castillejos and Jennifer Cremieux. NU lists one newcomer, sophomore Milena Schulz-Gartner.