Huskers Defeat Drake, 4-3

Lincoln ? The Nebraska men’s tennis team's victories in doubles play was enough to give the Huskers the extra point needed to defeat Drake, 4-3, at the Woods Tennis Center Wednesday afternoon.

Nebraska Head Coach Kerry McDermott knew the doubles matches would be important.

"Doubles is what kept us winning," said McDermott. "I thought it was going to be tough. Drake is a very good team. I told the team that doubles was the key element for us today."

The win is the first for the Huskers at home this season and brings the team’s overall record back to the .500 mark at 3-3 overall

"Our team found a way to win," McDermott said. "Even though we didn't play well today, this was a good character builder for the team.

At No. 2 doubles, Nebraska’s Jose Rivera and Joerg Barthel defeated Felipe Montenegro and Sergi Vila from Drake, 9-7. The duo of James Clow and Gerhard Posch defeated Drake’s Jack Frankowicz and Jonathan Tishler, 8-1, at No. 3 doubles, giving the Huskers the doubles point.

The Bulldog duo of Anthony Perkins and Matthew McClure defeated Joel Reckewey and Justin Junck, 9-8, at No. 1 doubles.

In singles action, each team won three matches. Nebraska’s top two slots each came from a first-set loss to defeat its opponents in the following two sets. At No. 1 singles, Barthel defeated Montenegro, 2-6, 7-5, 7-6, while Posch was victorious over Perkins, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, at the number two slot.

At the number four slot, Rivera defeated McClure, 6-4, 6-1, to gain another two points for the Huskers.

In his singles match, Reckewey started off solid, winning his first set, 6-7, but couldn't keep the momentum and lost his next two sets, 6-4, 6-3, to Tishler of Drake at No. 6 singles.

The Huskers next play against Big 12 rival Colorado on Saturday, March 6, in Boulder, Colo., at 1 p.m. central time.

Final Score: Nebraska 4, Drake 3
Lincoln, Neb. -- Woods Tennis Center
March 3, 2004

Doubles
1. Anthony Perkins/Matthew McClure (DU) def. Joel Reckewey/Justin Junck (NU), 9-8
2. Jose Rivera/Joerg Barthel (NU) def. Felipe Montenegro/Sergi Vila (DU), 9-7
3. James Clow/Gerhard Posch (NU) def. Jack Frankowicz/Jonathan Tishler (DU), 8-1

Singles
1. Joerg Barthel (NU) def. Felipe Montenegro (DU), 2-6, 7-5, 7-6
2. Gerhard Posch (NU) def. Anthony Perkins (DU), 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
3. Jack Frankowicz (DU) def. Jeff Nabity (NU), 6-3, 6-0
4. Jose Rivera (NU) def. Matthew McClure (DU), 6-4, 6-1
5. Sergi Vila (DU) def. James Clow (NU), 6-1, 6-1
6. Jonathan Tishler (DU) def. Joel Reckewey (NU), 6-7, 6-4, 6-3

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