Huskers Fall to Wildcats

Lincoln - The No. 41 Nebraska women’s tennis team fell on Senior Day to No. 66 Kansas State, 4-3, on Sunday, April 23, at the NU Varsity Courts.  With the loss, the Huskers slipped to 15-8 overall and 6-5 in the Big 12.

 

The Big Red got off to a shaky start in doubles play.  At No. 1, the KSU tandem of Jessica Simosa and Katka Kudlackova defeated senior Ewelina Skaza and freshman Imke Reimers, 8-1, but the Husker duo of senior Milena Schulz-Gartner and freshman Kim Hartmann dominated Tamar Kvaratskhelia and Maria Perevoschikova, 8-2, at No. 2.  The win marked Hartmann and Schulz-Gartner’s 16th victory of the season.  Fernanda Da Valle and Olga Kliminova topped NU senior Pamela Castillejos and freshman Vanessa Heute, 8-4, at No. 3 to clinch the point for the Wildcats.

 

The Huskers entered singles play needing to take four of six matches to send the seniors out in style.

 

Hartmann and Reimers quickly put NU on top with victories at the top of the lineup.  Hartmann dominated Kvaratskhelia, 6-1, 6-2, at No. 1, and Reimers rolled over Perevoschikova in straight sets, 6-2, 6-1, at No. 2.  Heute recorded her 10th straight singles win, as she defeated Kudlackova, 6-2, 6-2, at No. 5.  The win marked Heute’s second career victory at that spot.

 

Nebraska was leading the match 3-1 with three matches still playing and had KansasState’s back to the wall, but the Wildcats were not finished fighting.

 

Castillejos, who has been battling wrist and shoulder injuries throughout the season, was not able to put away Da Valle, as the Wildcat sophomore clawed back from a 5-1 deficit in the third set to take the match, 1-6, 6-3, 7-5, at No. 4.  Klimova bounced back from a 6-4 loss in the first set at No. 6 and took the next two sets over Skaza, 7-6, 6-3.  Simosa, Kansas State’s only senior, after falling in the first set, 7-6 (5), forced a second set tiebreaker, defeating Schulz-Gartner, 7-6 (5).  Simosa carried her momentum into the third set, when she topped Schulz-Gartner, 6-2, to give the Wildcats the victory.

 

“We have to give KansasState credit,” NU Coach Scott Jacobson said.  “They kept battling and never gave up.  It’s a tough way for our seniors to go out.  We have to regroup emotionally and get ready for the Big 12 Championships.”

 

The Huskers will next play in the Big 12 Championships in Waco, Texas, which start Thursday, April 27.  Nebraska’s opponent will not be determined until the end of conference play Sunday night.

 

No. 66 KansasState 4, No. 41 Nebraska 3

 

Doubles

No. 1 Jessica Simosa/Katka Kudlackova (KSU) def. Imke Reimers/Ewelina Skaza (NU), 8-1
No. 2 Kim Hartmann/Schulz-Gartner (NU) def. Tamar Kvaratskhelia/Maria Perevoschikova (KSU), 8-2

No. 3 Fernanda Da Valle/Olga Kliminova (KSU) def. Pamela Castillejos/Vanessa Heute (NU), 8-4

 

Singles

No. 1 Hartmann (NU) def. Kvaratskhelia (KSU), 6-2, 6-1
No. 2 Reimers (NU) def. Perevoschikova (KSU), 6-2, 6-1
No. 3 Simosa (KSU) def. Schulz-Gartner (NU), 6-7 (5), 7-6 (5), 6-2
No. 4 Da Valle (KSU) def. Castillejos (NU), 1-6, 6-3, 7-5
No. 5 Heute (NU) def. Kudlackova (KSU), 6-2, 6-2
No. 6 Klimova (KSU) def. Skaza (NU), 4-6. 7-6 (5), 6-3