Huskers Fall to No. 9 Texas A&M

Lincoln -- The Nebraska men's tennis team struggled against one of the nation's top teams Saturday, falling to No. 9 Texas A&M, 7-0, at the Woods Tennis Center. The loss brings the Huskers' record to 2-3 overall and 0-1 in Big 12 action.

"I'm disappointed that we lost," NU head Coach Kerry McDermott said, "but I felt that we played a better match today than we did last week. I thought mentally we bounced back. It was encouraging for me as a coach to see that we competed really hard. Texas A&M is a really good team and deserving of their ranking. We had some shots at No. 1 and 2 singles; I thought the guys played really well. I thought our No. 1 doubles team had some great opportunities."

In singles action, Texas A&M swept Nebraska in all six matches. Sophomore Gerhard Posch, in the No. 2 slot for NU, won his first set, 6-3, but lost the next two sets, 1-6, 1-6, to nationally-ranked No. 19 Ante Matijevic. The Aggies defeated the Huskers in straight sets in all of the other matches.

Nebraska lost all three matches in doubles play. In the No. 1 slot, NU's Posch and Jose Rivera fell to the nation’s top duo, Lester Cook and Ante Matijevic, 8-4. Aggies Brett Joelson and Marvin Rolle shut out the Huskers' No. 2 tandem, Jose Rivera and James Clow, 8-0. Mohamed Dakki and Matt Loucks defeated Jeff Nabity and Ryan Jay, 8-1.

The Huskers next match is on March 3 at 1 p.m., when they host Drake at the Woods Tennis Center.

Final Score: No. 9 Texas A&M 7, No. 75 Nebraska 0
Lincoln, Neb. -- Woods Tennis Center
Feb. 21, 2004

Doubles
1. No. 1 Lester Cook/Ante Matijevic (A&M) def. Gerhard Posch/Jose Rivera (NU), 8-4
2. Brett Joelson/Marvin Rolle (A&M) def. James Clow/Joerg Barthel (NU), 8-0
3. Mohamed Dakki/Matt Loucks (A&M) def. Jeff Nabity/Ryan Jay (NU), 8-1

Singles

1. No. 17 LesterCook (A&M) def. Joerg Barthel (NU), 6-3, 6-3
2. No. 19 Ante Matijevic (A&M) def. Gerhard Posch (NU), 6-3, 1-6, 1-6
3. Mohamid Dakki (A&M) def. James Clow (NU), 6-2, 6-1
4. Khaled El Corray (A&M) def. Jose Rivera (NU), 6-2, 6-1
5. Brett Joelson (A&M) def. Jeff Nabity (NU), 6-1, 6-4
6. Matt Louks (A&M) def. Joel Reckewey (NU), 6-4, 6-2