Huskers Fall to No. 24 Longhorns, 7-0

Lincoln ? Returning to the court for the first time in more than a week, the Nebraska men’s tennis team started its spring break at home where it fell to No. 24 Texas, 7-0, Monday at the Woods Tennis Center. With the loss, Nebraska fell to 3-5 (0-3 Big 12) on the season while the Longhorns improved to 9-6 (1-0 Big 12).

Despite the final score, Nebraska Coach Kerry McDermott thought the outcome could have gone either way and that the Huskers played better than recent matches.

"We played well enough that there was a point that I thought we might have a chance to win the match," McDermott said. "We competed and put ourselves in position to make it a tight match, but we have to take advantage of opportunities more and play to our potential to knock off some of these top teams we play every week."

UT took the doubles point by winning the Nos. 1 and 3 slots, while Nebraska's lone victory came at the No. 2 doubles position. The tandem of Jose Rivera and Joerg Barthel picked up their third straight doubles victory for the Huskers with an 8-6 win over Pete Stroer and Jimmy Haney.

In singles action, NU's Gerhard Posch pushed 91st-ranked Antonio Ruiz to the limit before falling 7-6, 7-6, at No. 1 singles while a pair of Huskers forced their Longhorn counterparts to a third set. Rivera dropped a 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (10-5), heartbreaker to Stroer at No. 3 singles and Joel Reckewey fell to Will Clinton, 4-6, 7-6, 7-6 (10-8), at the No. 6 position.

The Huskers return to action this weekend in Milwaukee, Wis., when Nebraska faces UW-Green Bay (March 19), Marquette (March 20) and Xavier (March 20).

 

Final Score: No. 24 Texas 7, Nebraska 0
Lincoln, Neb. -- Woods Tennis Center
March 15, 2004

Doubles
1. Jose Zahri/Antonio Ruiz (UT) def. Justin Junck/Joel Reckewey (NU), 8-1
2. Jose Rivera/Joerg Barthel (NU) def. Pete Stroer/Jimmy Haney (UT), 8-6
3. Joe Morris/Hubert Chodkiewcz (UT) def. Gerhard Posch/James Clow (NU), 8-3

Singles
1. No. 91 Antonio Ruiz (UT) def. Gerhard Posch (NU), 7-6, 7-6
2. Jose Zahri (UT) def. Joerg Barthel (NU), 6-1, 6-1
3. Pete Stroer (UT) def. Jose Rivera (NU), 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (10-5)
4. Jimmy Haney (UT) def. James Clow (NU), 6-3, 6-4
5. Ryan Haymond (UT) def. Jeff Nabity (NU), 6-4, 6-2
6. Will Clinton (UT) def. Joel Reckewey (NU), 4-6, 7-6, 7-6 (10-8)