Huskers Cruise Past Creighton

Lincoln ? The Nebraska men's tennis team snapped a two-match losing streak in convincing fashion, beating in-state rival Creighton, 6-1, at the Woods Tennis Center Tuesday. The Huskers improved to 8-7 on the season and evened their record in Lincoln (2-2) with one home match remaining this year.

"This was a great match to play because Creighton came out ready from the start," said NU Coach Kerry McDermott. "The atmosphere was great and Creighton gave us a really good match and came after us. I told the guys that we have to be ready to play every day, and today showed why. Creighton's No. 1 doubles team really played well and they pushed us at other spots, but our guys responded."

After dropping a decision at No. 1 doubles, the Huskers swept the next two slots to pick up the point. Justin Junck and Joel Reckewey ran past Creighton's Richard Gonzalez and Vince Meens, 8-3, at the No. 2 position while Nebraska's Gerhard Posch and Ryan Jay dominated the No. 3 slot with an 8-1 win over Justin Dennie and Jake Craney.

In singles action, the Huskers swept four points in straight sets, including James Clow's 6-1, 6-1, victory over Gonzalez at the No. 4 position. Joerg Barthel picked up his second win of the season at the No. 1 slot with a 6-2, 7-6, win over McCarthy and Posch earned his eighth singles win of the season with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Otto at the No. 2 position. Playing a the No. 5 spot, Reckewey matched Posch's team-high mark with his eighth win of the year in a 6-2, 7-6, victory over Eduardo Pignatari.

Creighton's Vince Meens picked up the Bluejay's only point of the day with a 6-4, 6-2, victory over Nebraska's Jose Rivera at the No. 3 slot, while NU's Jeff Nabity had to storm back from a one-set deficit to pull out a three-set victory, 4-6, 6-1, 6-3, over Dennie at the No. 6 slot.

Nebraska returns to action with a pair of Big 12 showdowns this weekend. The Huskers head to Texas to take on No. 2-ranked Baylor on Friday, April 2, in Waco. NU then plays No. 61 Texas Tech on Sunday, April 4, in Lubbock before returning to Lincoln for its final home match of the season on Wednesday, April 7, against No. 28 Oklahoma State.

Final Score: Nebraska 6, Creighton 1
Lincoln, Neb. -- Woods Tennis Center
March 30, 2004

Doubles
1. Kevin Otto/Tom McCarthy (CU) def. Jose Rivera/Joerg Barthel (NU), 8-4
2. Justin Junck/Joel Reckewey (NU) def. Richard Gonzalez/Vince Meens (CU), 8-3
3. Gerhard Posch/Ryan Jay (NU) def. Jake Craney/Justin Dennie (CU), 8-1

Singles
1. Joerg Barthel (NU) def. Tom McCarthy (CU), 6-2, 7-6
2. Gerhard Posch (NU) def. Kevin Otto (CU), 6-2, 6-4
3. Vince Meens (CU) def. Jose Rivera (NU), 6-4, 6-2
4. James Clow (NU) def. Richard Gonzalez (CU), 6-1, 6-1
5. Joel Reckewey (NU) def. Eduardo Pignatari (CU), 6-2, 7-6
6. Jeff Nabity (NU) def. Justin Dennie (CU), 4-6, 6-1, 6-3