NU Receives First-Ever NCAA Tennis Tournament Bid

Lincoln, Neb.?The No. 38 Nebraska women’s tennis team received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament on Wednesday, May 4.  The Huskers will face No. 22 South Carolina on Friday, May 13, in Athens, Ga., in the first round in Nebraska’s first appearance in the tournament in school history.

 

Head Coach Scott Jacobson was pleased with the bid.

“This was our goal from the beginning of the year,” Jacobson said.  “I have never been around a program that has deserved this honor as much as this one did.”

 

The Huskers posted a 7-3 record against ranked teams this season.  The seven victories are believed to be the most in school history, while Nebraska’s .857 winning percentage ranks No. 1 in school history.  Five NU players own 12 or more wins this year, including seniors Gitte Ostermann and Katie Garcia, juniors Pamela Castillejos and Ewelina Skaza and freshman Imke Reimers. 

 

Jacobson was named Big 12 Coach of the Year on Monday, May 2, for the first time in his career.  Jacobson has led NU over the past 14 years and is the winningest coach in school history.  The Huskers own a conference-best 18-3 overall record and finished third in the league with a 9-2 record, their highest conference finish during the Big 12 era. 

 

Jacobson is not the only award winner this spring, as NU had two players earn all-conference honors. Senior Gitte Ostermann, who is ranked No. 43 in singles play, was an all-league selection and senior Katie Garcia and Ostermann earned the nod in doubles play.  This marks the third year that Ostermann has been named all-conference in singles.  She has posted a career-best 26 wins this season, which ranks fourth on NU’s single season chart.  Garcia and Ostermnan own a 14-5 record all at the No. 1 slot, and posted a 10-match winning streak.