Huskers Defeat Fifth Ranked Team of the Season

Lincoln, Neb.?The No. 49 Nebraska women’s tennis team defeated No. 63 Kansas, 4-3, in a close conference match at the NU Varsity Courts on Wednesday, April 5.  With the win, Nebraska improves to 12-6 on the year and 3-3 in the conference, while KU drops to 11-7 overall.

 

The Huskers shot out of the gates quickly, wasting little time taking the doubles point.  At No. 1, senior Ewelina Skaza and sophomore Imke Reimers defeated Ksenia Bukina and Elizabeth Avdeeva, 8-4.  Senior Milena Schulz-Gartner and freshman Kim Hartmann clinched the doubles point for NU, as they topped Lauren Hommell and Edina Horvath, 8-4, at No. 2.

 

“We came out well and stayed strong in doubles,” coach Scott Jacobson said.  “We played hard in doubles, and it helped our emotion going into singles play.”

 

The Big Red jumped out to an early 3-1 lead after senior Pamela Castillejos and freshman Vanessa Heute won their matches in straight sets.  Heute, who played at the No. 6 spot, pulled out a close first set win over Stephanie Smith, 6-4, and took that momentum into the second set where she did not surrender a game, blanking Smith, 6-0.  Heute’s win marks her fifth straight win, and she is undefeated at the No. 6 spot.  Castillejos battled through nagging wrist and shoulder injuries to take her 10th straight victory at the No. 5 spot, beating Hommell, 6-4, 6-4.

 

Kansas bounced back, taking matches at the Nos. 3 and 5 spots to bring the score to 3-2.  Christine Skoda handed Schulz-Gartner her second loss in her last six completed matches at No. 3, defeating the senior from Germany, 7-6 (4), 6-1, while Horvath defeated Skaza in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1, at No. 5.

 

The Huskers needed one more win to clinch a victory and they found it at No. 1 singles.  Hartmann jumped out to a quick lead, taking the first set, 6-2.  Bukina, who is ranked No. 107,  rallied to take the second set, 6-1.  With the match tied, Hartmann turned in a 6-3 victory in the third set to give NU the win.

 

“I think the 10 day break in action was good for us,” Jacobson said.  “We came back fresh and played with passion today.”

 

The Huskers return to the courts Sunday, April 9, at 11 a.m. when they face No. 41 Texas A&M.  Weather permitting, the Huskers will play at the NU Varsity Courts.

 

No. 49 Nebraska 4, No. 63 Kansas 3

 

Doubles

No. 1 Ewelina Skaza/Imke Reimers (NU) def. Ksenia Bukina/Elizabeth Avdeeva (KU), 8-4

No. 2 Kim Hartmann/Milena Schulz-Gartner (NU) def. Lauren Hommell/Edina Horvath (KU), 8-4
No. 3 Christine Skoda/Yuliana Svistun (KU) def. Vanessa Heute/Pamela Casitllejos (NU), 8-3

 

Singles

No. 1 Hartmann (NU) def. No. 107 Bukina (KU), 6-2, 1-6, 6-3
No. 2 Avdeeva (KU) def. Reimers (NU), 6-4, 7-5
No. 3 Skoda (KU) def. Schulz-Gartner (NU), 7-6 (4), 6-1
No. 4 Castillejos (NU) def. Hommell (KU), 6-4, 6-4
No. 5 Horvath (KU) def. Skaza (NU), 6-3, 6-1
No. 6 Heute (NU) def. Stephanie Smith (KU), 6-4, 6-0