Huskers Drop Tough Decision to New Mexico State, 4-3

Arlington, Texas ? The Nebraska men’s tennis team dropped a heartbreaker to New Mexico State, 4-3, Saturday at the UTA Tennis Center on the campus of Texas-Arlington. The Huskers fell to 8-11 on the season with their second loss this year to the Aggies, while NMSU improved to 9-10 overall.

The Aggies earned the dual win behind a pair of three-set victories in the bottom of the order. Christian Halligan earned a 1-6, 6-1, 7-6, win at the No. 4 spot to hand NU’s Jose Rivera his seventh straight singles loss, while Stjepan Beg barely edged NU freshman James Clow, 6-7, 7-6, 7-6, at the No. 5 slot to seal the victory.

The Huskers’ Joerg Barthel continued his hot hand in singles play, winning for the third time in five matches. Barthel moved up to the No. 1 slot and improved to 3-1 at that position with an easy 6-2, 6-3, victory over Ben Archer-Clowes. Joel Reckewey picked up another point for NU by outdistancing Lyon, 7-6, 7-6, at the No. 6 slot. It was Reckewey’s team-leading ninth singles win of the year.

“As the score would indicate, this was a close match, which we expected after playing them earlier this season,” said NU Coach Kerry McDermott. “This was a disappointing match to lose, but we did not get it done. Now we have to put this behind us and bring the same intensity Sunday against Arlington.”

Nebraska jumped out to a quick start by picking up the doubles point for just the sixth time this season and only the second time in the past eight matches. Barthel and Rivera earned their team-best ninth doubles victory of the season by cruising past NMSU’s Danilo Zivanovic and Luis Avila, 8-2, at the No. 2 position while the Huskers’ Gerhard Posch and Ryan Jay pulled out a tough 9-8 decision over Halligan and Beg at the No. 3 slot. NU’s Justin Junck and Reckewey dropped the opener at the No. 1 slot, 8-4, to Archer-Clowes and Lyon.

The Huskers return to action on Sunday, April 11, when they take on host Texas-Arlington at 11 a.m. at the UTA Tennis Center.

FINAL SCORE: New MexicoState 4, Nebraska 3
April 10, 2004 ? Arlington, Texas

Doubles
No. 1    Ben Archer-Clowes/Tyler Lyon (NMSU) def. Justin Junck/Joel Reckewey (NU), 8-4
No. 2    Joerg Barthel/Jose Rivera (NU) def. Danilo Zivanovic/Luis Avila (NMSU), 8-2
No. 3    Gerhard Posch/Ryan Jay (NU) def. Christian Halligan/Stjepan Beg (NMSU), 9-8

Singles
No. 1    Joerg Barthel (NU) def. Ben Archer-Clowes (NMSU), 6-2, 6-3
No. 2    Danilo Zivanovic (NMSU) def. Gerhard Posch (NU), 6-2, 6-3
No. 3    Luis Avila (NMSU) def. Jeff Nabity (NU), 6-2, 6-5
No. 4    Christian Halligan (NMSU) def. Jose Rivera (NU), 1-6, 6-1, 7-6
No. 5    Stjepan Beg (NMSU) def. James Clow (NU), 6-7, 7-6, 7-6
No. 6    Joel Reckewey (NU) def. Tyler Lyon (NMSU), 7-6, 7-6