49ers Defeat Huskers in California

Indian Wells, Calif.?The No. 42 Nebraska women’s tennis team fell to No. 20 Long Beach State, 4-3, Thursday evening in Indian Wells, Calif.  The setback was NU’s second straight loss, dropping the Huskers' record to 9-5 on the season. 

 

LBSU improves to 12-2 on the year.

 

The Big Red put sophomore Imke Reimers and senior Ewelina Skaza back at the top of the doubles lineup for the first time since March 4, and the switch paid off for the Huskers, as Reimers and Skaza defeated Katy Williams and Sandra Rocha, 8-6.  NU was unable to close out doubles play with another win to clinch the doubles point.  Freshman Kim Hartmann and senior Milena Schulz-Gartner played their second-straight match at No. 2 doubles, but fell in a close match, 8-5, to Jessica Weeks and Hannah Grady.

 

The 49ers clinched the doubles point when Stephanie Bengson and Rachael Prosz defeated Ellinor Zugner and Pamela Castillejos, 8-1, at the No. 3 spot.

 

The Huskers continued to battle in singles play.  At the No. 2 spot, Reimers, who is fighting through an ankle injury suffered last week, pulled out a victory over Williams in a three-set thriller, 5-7, 7-6 (8), 6-1.  Skaza recorded her third win in her last four matches, defeating Weeks, 3-6, 7-6 (1), 7-6 (7).  Freshman Vanessa Heute, who has been slowed by a nagging ankle injury throughout the season, played her first match of the season at the No. 6 slot, where she posted a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Rachel Porsz.

 

With the match on the line, the team captain, Castillejos found herself in a close match at the No. 4 spot.  Castillejos jumped out to an early lead and took the first set, 6-1.  However, Rocha bounced back to take the next two sets, 6-4, 7-5, to clinch the victory for the 49ers. 

  

“It was a very intense and well-played match by both teams,” assistant coach Hayden Perez said.  “We showed a lot of heart today but just came up short.  Coach Scott Jacobson and I are very pleased with the effort our team showed today.” 

 

Nebraska closes out its five-match road trip with the Newport Beach Tournament on Sunday, March 19.   Play starts at 11 a.m., central time, with NU facing No. 75 Loyola Marymount, while OhioState faces No. 71 Washington State.  NU’s next opponent will be determined by the outcome of the NU-LMU match and the WSU-OSU match.

 

No. 20 Long BeachState 4, No. 43 Nebraska 3

 

Doubles

No. 1 Imke Reimers/Ewelina Skaza (NU) def. Katy Williams/Sandra Rocha (LSBU), 8-6

No. 2 Jessica Weeks/Hannah Grady (LSBU) def. Kim Hartmann /Milena Schulz-Gartner (NU), 8-5

No. 3 Stephanie Bengson/Rachael Porsz (LSBU) def. Ellinor Zugner/ Pamela Castillejos (NU), 8-1

 

Singles

No.1 Hannah Grady (LSBU) def. Kim Hartmann (NU), 6-3, 6-0

No. 2 Imke Reimers (NU) def. Katy Williams (LSBU), 5-7, 7-6 (8), 6-1

No. 3 Stephanie Bengson (LSBU) def. Milena Schulz-Gartner (NU), 7-5, 6-3

No. 4 Sandra Rocha (LSBU) def. Pamela Castillejos (NU), 1-6, 6-4, 7-5

No. 5 Ewelina Skaza (NU) def. Jessica Weeks (LSBU), 3-6, 7-6 (1), 7-6 (7)

No. 6 Vanessa Heute (NU) def. Rachel Porsz  (LBSU) , 6-4, 6-2