Huskers Head to Georgia Tech Invitational

Lincoln - The Nebraska men’s tennis team will continue fall tournament play at the Georgia Tech Invitational held at the Bill Moore Tennis Center in Atlanta, Ga., Friday. Both singles and doubles play will begin on Friday, Oct. 7 and end on Sunday, Oct. 9.

Competing this weekend are juniors James Clow and Adrian Szatmary, sophomores Vincent Pietro, Karl Jones and Sean Coetzee along with freshman Ayhan Oray.

The tournament will feature 64 players from 14 schools including athletes from Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Vanderbilt and Auburn.

Posch and Clow Compete at ITA All-American Tournament
Nebraska men’s tennis senior Jerry Posch and junior James Clow competed at the 2005 Polo Ralph Lauren All-American Tennis Championships held at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center at the University of Tulsa in Tulsa, Okla., Oct. 3 and 4.

Posch was defeated by Concado Henrique of Old Dominion 6-4, 7-5, 6-1, in the first round of qualifying doubles. Posch and Clow were defeated in doubles action by Will Gray and Fredrico Soriano, 8-4, to knock the duo out.

The tournament featured the nation’s top collegiate tennis players including 128 singles players and 64 doubles teams split into a main draw and a qualifying draw.

Nebraska Opens Fall Season at Denver
The Nebraska men’s tennis team concluded its first tournament of the fall 2005 season in Denver, Colo., at the Denver Fall Invitational Sept. 25.

After losing in the first round of the Singles Filight A, junior James Clow made it to the Singles Flight A consolation finals, but lost to Minnesota’s DJ Gaetz, 7-6 (8), 7-5.

Clow was the only Husker to move past two rounds in the double-elimination tournament. In Singles Flight B, freshman Ayhan Oray lost in the quarterfinal match, 6-1, 6-3. Sophomore Karl Jones made it to the Singles Flight B consolation finals, but was defeated, 7-5, 4-6, 6-1, by Ryan Scott.

In doubles action, Clow and Jones were forced to retire in the quarterfinals due to illness.

Nebraska Welcomes Two New Players
Vincent Pietro and Ayhan Oray, both natives of Lakewood, Colo., have been added to the Huskers’ roster for the 2005-06 season.

Oray comes to NU after earning all-state honors three years and all-conference all four years at Green Mountain High School.

Pietro earned all-state honors twice, as well as all-conference honors all four years at Green Mountain High School.

Posch Named Team Captain
Senior Jerry Posch was named team captain for his excellent leadership abilities and commitment to the team. Last spring, Posch played at the No. 1 singles slot in 23 of 24 dual matches, recording a 9-14 record at the position, while holding a 10-16 mark overall. Posch was one of three Huskers with double-figure wins last spring and Head Coach Kerry McDermott expects similar, if not better, performances for the 2006 season.

McDermott said the Perchtoldsdorf, Austria, native plays mentally tough and is a leader-by-example to an improving Husker team.

"He’s such a great leader," McDermott said. "It’s almost like having another assistant coach because he is trying every day to help his teammates improve."

Nebraska Continues Excellence in the Classroom
Six members of the 2005 Nebraska men’s tennis team were among the 274 Husker student-athletes honored as part of the Big 12 Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll after recording 2005 spring semester grade-point averages of 3.0 or better.

Jose Rivera and Joel Reckewey led the Husker netters in the classroom with Rivera earning his seventh honor from the Big 12 office while Reckewey was named to the squad for the third time.

Sean Coetzee earned the honor for the third straight semester along with Gerhard Posch. Marcus Karner and Adrian Szatmary each earned their second consecutive selection to the honor roll as a Husker.

Clow Returns Looking to Repeat Success of 2005 Season
After a successful 2005 season, junior James Clow is the only returning letterwinner who produced a winning record through the 2005 season. In the No. 2 spot in NU’s lineup, Clow was 6-2, and in the No. 3 slot he was 5-6, finishing the season with a 13-12 overall record.

Head Coach Kerry McDermott said he feels Clow is the most improved Husker on the squad, as he gives 100 percent every day.

"He is great example of a competitor who plays with confidence," McDermott said. "He’s a great inspiration to the team with his spirit and emotion."

Through the 2005 fall season, Clow has earned an 4-2 singles record, making it to the consolation final in the Singles A bracket at the Denver Fall Invitational.