Posch Leads Huskers in Season Opener

Houston ? Junior Jerry Posch led the Nebraska men's tennis team on the first day of the season-opening Rice/Met Invitational Friday at the Downtown Club at the Met.

After ending the fall season with a team-best 9-3 record, Posch earned Nebraska's lone win in the 'A' Flight singles main draw with a tough, three-set victory over fifth-seeded Martin Zgaga of Baylor. Winning the decisive points in a tight match, Posch earned a 7-6, 6-7, 7-6, victory for his first win of the season over a ranked opponent. Zgaga came into the match ranked No. 45 nationally in the latest ITA poll.

In the round of 16, Posch again went to three sets before falling to Hubert Chodkiewicz of Texas, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.

The only other Husker to pick up a victory Friday in the 'A' bracket was newcomer Adrian Szatmary, who remained alive after the first round of consolation play. Szatmary, a sophomore transfer from Baylor, dropped his first match of the day against No. 1 seed Benedickt Dorsch, 6-0, 6-3. Szatmary came back to earn a 6-2, 6-2 straight set win over Rodrigo Gabriel of host Rice.

Also competing for the Huskers, Joel Reckewey, Marcus Karner and Karl Jones each advanced to the second round of the 'B' Flight singles draw before falling. Reckewey dominated Roland Robb of Rice, 6-1, 6-1, to move to the round of 16 where he fell to fifth-seeded Marcus Sundh of Kentucky, 6-4, 6-1. Karner also won in straight sets in the opening round before dropping a tough 1-6, 6-3, 6-3, match against Kentucky's Carey Ruben, while Jones fell to Hooney Shin of Rice, 6-0, 6-2, in the round of 16.

Nebraska continues action on Saturday, Jan. 22, beginning at 9 a.m.

 

Rice/Met Invitational
Houston, Texas -- Downtown Club at the Met

'A' Singles Main Draw
Hubert Chodkiewicz def. Jerry Posch 6-4; 4-6; 6-2
Ben Harknett def. James Clow 7-5; 6-1
Raul Rivas def. Joerg Barthel Withdrew (illness)
Jerry Posch def. (5) Matija Zgaga 7-6; 6-7; 7-6
(1) Benedikt Dorsch def. Adrian Szatmary 6-0; 6-3

Consolation:
Jason Mok def. Joerg Barthel Withdrew (inj)
Adrian Szatmary def. Rodrigo Gabriel 6-2; 6-2

'B' Singles Main Draw
(4) Hooney Shin def. Karl Jones 6-0; 6-2
Carey Rubin def. Marcus Karner 1-6; 6-3; 6-3
(5) Marcus Sundh def. Joel Reckewey 6-4; 6-1
(6) Guillamme Tonelli def. Jose Rivera 7-6; 6-7; 6-3
Karl Jones def. Eban Puglia 6-1; 6-3
Marcus Karner def. George Venson 6-3; 6-4
Joel Reckewey def. Roland Robb 6-1; 6-1