Huskers Begin Play at All-American Championships

Chattanooga, Tenn. -- James Clow and Marcus Karner led the Husker men’s tennis team on the first day of pre-qualifying at the ITA Men’s All-American Championships Friday at the Champions Tennis Club in Chattanooga. Clow and Karner each picked up a victory in the first round before falling in the second session Friday.

Clow earned a convincing victory over Matt Ozvrovich of San Diego, 6-3, 6-1, to advance before falling to Marty Steigwardt of SEC foe Florida, 6-0, 7-5. Karner, one of three newcomers competing for the Huskers this weekend, earned an easy 6-1, 6-3, victory over Vassil Zahariev of Florida A&M in the morning session before coming back in the afternoon, where he lost 7-5, 6-4, to Arizona State’s Ryan McBride.

Also competing for the Huskers this weekend were Joel Reckewey, who lost 6-1, 6-2, to Zachary Rath of Georgia Tech; Jose Rivera, who dropped a tough 4-6, 6-2, 6-2, decision to Jonas Hogland of Texas-San Antonio; and Karl Jones, who also fell in three sets, 3-6, 6-3, 6-7, (6), to Josh Irey of Mississippi State.

All five Huskers competing in the pre-qualifying tournament are now eliminated, but the Huskers still have three athletes in the championship flight. Jerry Posch, Joerg Barthel and Adrian Szatmary, a Husker newcomer who is ranked 115th nationally, begin play on Oct. 4 in the qualifying round.

Nebraska’s doubles teams of Jones/Posch, Karner/Szatmary and Clow/Rivera begin action in the qualifying section on Saturday. The event, which runs from the Oct. 1 to 10, is the largest collegiate event of the season with 192 singles players in the pre-qualifying tournament and a total tournament entry of more than 350.

ITA Men’s All-American Championships
Chattanooga, Tenn. --- Oct. 1, 2004 --- Singles

Zachary Rath (Georgia Tech) def.
Joel Reckewey (Nebraska), 6-1, 6-2

Jonas Hogland (Texas-San Antonio) def.
Jose Rivera (Nebraska), 4-6, 6-2, 6-2

Marcus Karner (Nebraska) def.
Vassil Zahariev (Florida A&M), 6-1, 6-3;
Ryan McBride (Arizona State) def.
Karner (Nebraska), 7-5, 6-4

Josh Irey (Mississippi State) def.
Karl Jones (Nebraska), 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (6)

James Clow (Nebraska) def.
Matt Ozvrovich (San Diego), 6-3, 6-1;
Marty Steigwardt (Florida) def.
Clow (Nebraska), 6-0, 7-5