Huskers Drop Match Against DePaul

Des Moines, Iowa -- The No. 69 Nebraska men’s tennis team had a two-match win streak snapped as it dropped a 5-2 decision to unranked DePaul Friday in Des Moines, Iowa.

After winning the doubles point, the Huskers managed just one victory in singles play to drop to 4-4 in dual meet action on the season. NU entered the match having earned just one doubles point in seven matches this season.

"We played well in the doubles and finally got that monkey off our back a little," said NU Coach Kerry McDermott. "But what really hurt us was in singles play, we had a pair of third-set loses, 7-6, which if you turn that around, we win the match. We needed to get those but DePaul fought hard and played well enough to win. Now we will look to bounce back with two more matches this weekend."

Adrian Szatmary and James Clow got the Huskers off to a solid start with an 8-3 victory at the No. 3 doubles slot, while Jerry Posch and Joel Reckewey gave Nebraska the first point of the match by taking an 8-6 decision at No. 1 doubles.

Clow came back at the No. 2 position to earn the Huskers’ lone point in singles play as he defeated Robert Kotroczo in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2. The win was Clow’s seventh singles victory of the season and sixth straight win, including the past three at the No. 2 slot. Last season, Clow posted eight wins during the spring slate.

"James just keeps on winning where ever we put him in the lineup," McDermott said. "He may be the best competitor on the team, he just thrives on competition especially in close matches. Hopefully he can continue to do well as the season goes on."

In the other pivotal singles matches, Posch fell at the No. 1 singles slot in three sets to DePaul’s Mark Henderson, 3-6, 6-2, 7-6, while Jose Rivera had a six-match winning streak snapped when he fell to Jack Komar, 6-4, 2-6, 7-6. Rivera entered the weekend with a team-best eight singles victories this spring.

The Huskers return to action on Saturday, Feb. 19, when they take on host Drake in Des Moines at 4 p.m. Nebraska rounds out the weekend with a 10 a.m. matchup against Arkansas-Little Rock in Des Moines on Sunday, Feb. 20.

DePaul 5, No. 69 Nebraska 2
Des Moines, Iowa

Doubles
No. 1 Jerry Posch/Joel Reckewey (NU) def. Sam Davison/Robert Kotroczo (DU), 8-6
No. 2 Eric Huffman/Mark Henderson (DU) def. Joerg Barthel/Jose Rivera (NU), 8-4
No. 3 Adrian Szatmary/James Clow (NU) def. George Wang/Jack Komar (DU), 8-3

Singles
No. 1 Mark Henderson (DU) def. Jerry Posch (NU), 3-6, 6-2, 7-6
No. 2 James Clow (NU) def. Robert Kotroczo (DU), 6-2, 6-2
No. 3 Sam Davison (DU) def. Adrian Szatmary (NU), 6-4, 6-4
No. 4 George Wang (DU) def. Joerg Barthel (NU), 7-6, 6-1
No. 5 Jack Komar (DU) def. Jose Rivera (NU), 6-4, 2-6, 7-6
No. 6 Eric Huffman (DU) def. Joel Reckewey (NU), 6-0, 6-4