Huskers Fall At Region V Championships

Lincoln, Neb.--- The Nebraska men’s tennis team completed the fall season Saturday, as the Huskers’ doubles team and lone singles player were eliminated at the 2003 Omni Hotels Region V Championships at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center in Tulsa.

Nebraska junior Joel Reckewey had the longest run of any Husker at the regional tournament, reaching the quarterfinals of the singles consolation draw Saturday before being ousted. Reckewey, who received a bye in the first round of the consolation bracket in his first day of competition, opened Saturday on a strong note, defeating Mark Edney of Arkansas-Little Rock in the round of 32. Reckewey cruised to a 6-1 victory in the first set before falling in the second frame, 4-6, to set up a tie-breaker. In the final set, Reckewey pulled out a 10-6 victory to advance.

Reckewey found his rhythm early in his second match of the day, easily dispatching Chris Lueth of Drake in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2. In the only quarterfinal match contested Saturday, Reckewey fell to Matt McClure of Drake, 6-4, 6-4.

In doubles play, the Husker tandem of Joerg Barthel and Jose Rivera also reached the quarterfinals, where they fell to Oklahoma’s Ondrej Fukala and Tommy Garrison, 8-3. Barthel and Rivera, who entered the tournament as the No. 2 doubles seed, won their opening match of the day, cruising past Southwest Missouri State’s Nenand Curcic and Filip Knezevic by an 8-4 count.

The Huskers return to action in the spring, opening play against Southwest Missouri State in Springfield, Mo., on Jan. 24.

Omni Hotels Region V Championships
Michael D. Case Tennis Center
Tulsa, Okla.
Oct. 18, 2003

Consolation Singles Draw
Round of 32
Joel Reckewey (NU) def. Mark Edney (UALR), 6-1, 4-6, 10-6

Round of 16
Joel Reckewey (NU) def. Chris Lueth (DU), 6-2, 6-2

Quarterfinals
Matt McClure (DU) def. Joel Reckewey (NU), 6-4, 6-4

Doubles Main Draw
Round of 16
No. 2 Joerg Barthel/Jose Rivera (NU) def. Nenand Curcic/Filip Knezevic (SMS), 8-4

Quarterfinals
Ondrej Fukala/Tommy Garrison (OU) def. No. 2 seed Joerg Barthel/Jose Rivera (NU), 8-3