Huskers Drop Tough Match to New Mexico State

Boise, Idaho -- The Nebraska men's tennis team dropped its second straight match with a tough 5-2 setback against New Mexico State Saturday in the final day of competition at the Boise State Holiday Inn Invitational. With the loss, the Huskers fell to 7-7 on the year.

"It was a tight match, but New Mexico State won a couple of tough matches at the top of the singles order," said Coach Kerry McDermott. "They won the doubles point and when they took those first two singles matches, it gave them some momentum. I thought we fought hard and showed some pride, especially at the bottom of the order with James (Clow) and Joel (Reckewey) picking up wins. It was good to see that we still had some fight left."

Clow and Reckewey scored Nebraska's only points of the match by pulling out straight-set victories at the Nos. 5 and 6 slots, respectively. Clow defeated Christian Halligan, 6-4, 6-2, while Reckewey picked up his third straight win at the tournament with an easy 6-1, 6-1, victory over Spencer Peoples. Reckewey, who now owns a 7-6 singles record this spring, has won a team-high five straight matches and six of his last seven.

At the top of the order, the Huskers found some tough luck as NMSU picked up a pair of points with three-set victories at the Nos. 1 and 2 positions. Ben Archer-Clowes started the Aggies' run as he pushed across a 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 come-from-behind victory over NU's Gerhard Posch at the No. 1 slot. Danilo Zivanovic continued NMSU's surge with a 5-7, 6-2, 7-6 (7-1) win over Joerg Barthel at No. 2 singles while Luis Avila won a 6-3, 6-4 decision over NU's Jose Rivera at the No. 3 position. Jeff Nabity also dropped a 6-2, 6-2 decision to Stjepan Beg at the No. 4 slot.

In doubles action, New Mexico State took the point with a pair of victories in the final two matches. Nebraska's lone win came at the No. 1 doubles slot, where Rivera and Barthel combined for an 8-3 win. It was the tandem's eighth win in Nebraska's last nine matches, although it was Rivera and Barthel's first doubles win at the top spot in three tries this season.

Nebraska returns to action on Tuesday, March 30, when the Huskers return home to take on instate rival Creighton at the Woods Tennis Center at 2 p.m. Admission is free to the public.

FINAL SCORE: New Mexico State 5, Nebraska 2
March 27, 2004 -  Boise Racquet & Swim Club, Boise, Idaho

Doubles
1. Jose Rivera/Joerg Barthel (NU) def. Ben Archer-Clowes/Tyler Lyon (NMSU), 8-3
2. Danilo Zivanovic/Luis Avila (NMSU) def. Joel Reckewey/Justin Junck (NU), 8-6
3. Stjepan Beg/Christian Halligan (NMSU) def. Gerhard Posch/Ryan Jay (NU), 8-5

Singles
1. Ben Archer-Clowes (NMSU) def. Gerhard Posch (NU), 4-6, 6-1, 6-4
2. Danilo Zivanovic (NMSU) def. Joerg Barthel (NU), 5-7, 6-2, 7-6 (7-1)
3. Luis Avila (NMSU) def. Jose Rivera (NU), 6-3, 6-4
4. Stjepan Beg (NMSU) def. Jeff Nabity (NU), 6-2, 6-2
5. James Clow (NU) def. Christian Halligan (NMSU), 6-4, 6-2
6. Joel Reckewey (NU) def. Spencer Peoples (NMSU), 6-1, 6-1