Huskers Open Season with Win over Southwest Missouri State

Springfield, Mo. ? The University of Nebraska men’s tennis team opened the 2004 campaign on a high note, defeating Southwest Missouri State, 4-3, on the road Saturday. SMS dropped to 0-2 on the season with the loss.

Nebraska (1-0) dropped the doubles point to start the day, as the Huskers won just one of three matches. NU’s tandem of Justin Junck and Joel Reckewey outlasted Rishi Garbharran and Pedja Pavlicic, 8-6, at the No. 3 doubles slot to pick up the only victory and jumpstart the Huskers heading into singles play.

A pair of newcomers made their debut for the Huskers as sophomore Gerhard Posch and freshman James Clow opened the season at the No. 1 and 2 singles positions, respectively. Posch started his career in fine fashion, earning a 7-5, 6-3, victory over Pavel Hanek at the top spot, while Clow dropped a tough 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, decision to Jiri Spousta.

NU’s other three points came from returnees, as the Huskers have five players back from last season’s 10-11 squad. Nebraska added five newcomers, including four at the start of the second semester.

Sophomore Joerg Barthel went the distance against Nenad Curcic, taking a tough 6-4, 7-6, victory at the No. 3 slot, while junior Jose Rivera had a tremendous come-from-behind victory at the No. 4 singles position. Rivera, who finished the 2003 fall schedule with the best record of any Husker, took the point with a 5-7, 6-1, 6-4, win over Garbharran.

After Jeff Nabity dropped a tough 2-6, 6-4, 7-6, decision at the No. 5 spot, senior Jeff Nabity iced the season-opening victory with a 6-1, 6-7, 6-0, win at the No 6 slot.

“This was a good match for us to open the season,” said Coach Kerry McDermott, who is beginning his 23rd season with the Huskers. “The guys fought through it well, and really competed throughout the match. They showed character and played as a team. SMS had its strongest team in the past few years and everyone stepped up for us. We had a couple of good matches from the new guys at the top and gained some wins with our experienced guys up and down the lineup.”

Nebraska returns to action on Sunday, Jan. 25, when the Huskers travel to Fayetteville, Ark., to take on the Arkansas Razorbacks.

FINAL SCORE:  Nebraska 4, SouthwestMissouriState 3
Sat., Jan. 24, 2004
Cooper Tennis Complex
Springfield, Mo.

Singles
1. Gerhard Posch (NU) def. Pavel Hanek (SMS), 7-5, 6-3
2. Jiri Spousta (SMS) def. James Clow (NU), 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
3. Joerg Barthel (NU) def. Nenad Curcic (SMS), 6-4, 7-6
4. Jose Rivera (NU) def. Rishi Garbharran (SMS), 5-7, 6-1, 6-4
5. Filip Knezevic (SMS) def. Joel Reckewey (NU), 2-6, 6-4, 7-6
6. Jeff Nabity (NU) def. Pedja Pavlicic (SMS), 6-1, 6-7, 6-0

Doubles
1. Hanek-Spousta (SMS) def. Barthel-Rivera (NU), 8-1
2. Curcic-Knezevic (SMS) def. Posch-Clow (NU), 8-6
3. Justin Junck-Reckewey (NU) def. Garbharran-Pavlicic (SMS), 8-6