Men's Tennis Falls to South Alabama

Corpus Christi, Texas - The Nebraska men's tennis team lost its third straight match at the H.E.B. Tournament on Saturday, as they fell to the No. 61 South Alabama Jaguars 4-2. The Jaguars won despite only having five healthy players able to participate. The loss puts Nebraska's record at 4-7 for the season, and all seven Husker losses so far this season have been to ranked opponents.

"I thought we played pretty well," said NU head coach Kerry McDermott. "It might sound crazy to say since we lost. But I thought we played much better today than yesterday."

Nebraska fell just short of winning the doubles point for the first time in five matches. The Huskers won by default at No. 3 doubles since USA had only five available players, so Nebraska needed only one victory in the two remaining doubles matches to take the point. Nebraska fell just short, however, losing at No. 1 doubles 9-7 before losing in a tiebreaker at No. 2 doubles, 9-8 (5), giving the Jaguars a 1-0 lead.

Nebraska tied it at 1-1 by default, as Taylor Boney got an automatic victory at No. 6 singles. South Alabama's Jack Baker, ranked No. 9 in the nation in singles, quickly gave the Jaguars a 2-1 lead after defeating David Bendheim at No. 1 singles, 6-4, 6-1. R.J. Nagle made it 3-1 USA after his 4-6, 6-0, 6-0 victory over Francois Van Impe at No. 4 singles. The Huskers wouldn't go quietly, as Renato Melo came back after losing the first set in his match at No. 5 singles to win 2-6, 6-1, 6-3, narrowing the Jaguar lead to 3-2. Robert Hodel iced the victory for South Alabama shortly after, however, giving the team its fourth point when he beat Hendrik Stahmer at No. 3 singles, 7-5, 3-6, 6-2.

"We're competing really hard," McDermott said. "If we continue to compete like this, we're not going to worry about wins and losses. We'll get some wins in the future if we just keep up our competitiveness."

The Huskers went 0-3 on the weekend at the tournament, and have lost five straight matches. They will try to snap their losing streak next weekend with home matches against Western Michigan on Friday, March 7, and New Mexico on Sunday, March 9.

Results
South Alabama 4, Nebraska 2

Doubles
No. 1 Baker/Sramek (USA) def. Bendheim/Paar (NU), 9-7
No. 2 Hodel/Nagel (USA) def. Stahmer/Van Impe (NU), 9-8 (5)
No. 3 Boney/Schneider (NU) won by default

Singles
No. 1 Jack Baker (USA) def. David Bendheim (NU), 6-4, 6-1
No. 2 Calin Paar (NU) vs. Marek Sramek (USA), DNF
No. 3 Robert Hodel (USA) def. Hendrik Stahmer (NU), 7-5, 3-6, 6-2
No. 4 R.J. Nagel (USA) def. Francois Van Impe (NU), 4-6, 6-0, 6-0
No. 5 Renato Melo (NU) def. Aaron Krisan (USA), 2-6, 6-1, 6-3
No. 6 Taylor Boney (NU) won by default