Nebraska Falls to Iowa

Lincoln, Neb.?The No. 36 Nebraska women’s tennis team fell to No. 48 Iowa, 4-3, Sunday, at the WoodsTennisCenter.  The loss snaps NU’s 69 match home non-conference winning streak, as the Huskers fell to 7-2 on the year.

 

The tone of the match was set early with two doubles matches heading into tiebreakers.  At No. 1 doubles, Meg Racette and Jacqueline Lee of Iowa defeated the Huskers’ duo of sophomore Imke Reimers and junior Ewelina Skaza, 9-8 (9).  Nebraska sophomore Ellinor Zugner and senior Pamela Castillejos fought back at No. 3 to send the match into a tiebreaker but fell to Kayla Berry and Krissy Dowlin, 9-8 (5), as Iowa claimed the doubles point, which proved to be the deciding factor in the match.

 

Team captain Castillejos got NU on the board with a crucial win over Berry in straight sets at the No. 5 singles spot, 7-5, 6-4.  Shortly after Castillejos’ victory, Skaza bounced back after dropping the first set, 6-4, to take the next two sets, 6-3, 6-4, at No. 6.  Racette, the Hawkeyes’ No. 1 singles player who is ranked No. 39 nationally, proved to be too much for Hartmann, defeating the NU freshman, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1.

 

In a highly emotional match at the No. 2 spot, Reimers, who is ranked No. 100 nationally, and Hillary Mintz put on a show for the fans at the WoodsTennisCenter.  Mintz took the first set 7-6 (4), but Reimers battled back from cramps to take the second set, 7-6 (6).  The match went to a third set superbreaker and after exchanging points, the sophomore from Germany won the match, 11-9, to add another point for the Huskers.

 

“It was a hard fought loss,” coach Scott Jacobson said.  “Iowa played at a high level but we just need to stay positive and keep our heads up.  Reimers showed classic signs of her heart today.  She is one of the most competitive players I have ever coached.  I am very proud of her.”

 

Nebraska plays its next match on the road when it takes on No. 16 Baylor in Waco, Texas, at 2 p.m. on March 4.

 

Iowa 4, Nebraska 3

Doubles

No. 1 Meg Racette/Jacqueline Lee (UI) def. Imke Reimers/Ewelina Skaza (NU), 9-8 (11-9)
No. 2 Kim Hartmann/Milena Schulz-Gartner (NU) def. Hillary Mintz/Mili Veselinovic (UI), 8-4
No. 3 Kayla Berry/Krissy Dowlin (UI) def. Ellinor Zugner/Pamela Castillejos (NU), 9-8 (7-5)

Singles

No. 1 No. 39 Racette (UI) def. Hartmann (NU), 4-6, 6-2, 6-1
No. 2 No. 100 Reimers (NU) def. Mintz (UI), 6-7 (4), 7-6 (6), 13-11
No. 3 Veselinovic (UI) def. Vanessa Heute (NU), 7-5, 6-4
No. 4 Lee (UI) def. Schulz-Gartner (NU), 6-2, 6-3
No. 5 Castillejos (NU) def. Berry (UI), 7-5, 6-4
No. 6 Skaza (NU) def. Dowlin (UI), 4-6, 6-4, 6-4