Huskers Too Much For Spartans

Johnson City, Tenn. - The Nebraska men's tennis team improved to 7-9 with a 5-1 win over South Carolina Upstate on Sunday morning in Johnson City, Tenn. The Huskers have now alternated wins and losses in their last six matches and rebounded nicely from a 4-1 loss to No. 42 East Tennessee State on Saturday afternoon.

The match, originally scheduled to be played Saturday afternoon, was delayed to Sunday morning due to heavy rains in the area. The Spartans, playing their first season as a Division I school, failed to record their first-ever victory over a BCS conference opponent, and fell to 10-4 on the season.

“We played a good match,” said Head Coach Kerry McDermott. “I thought our guys competed really well. We took care of business like we should have.”

The teams started out with singles play due to the possibility of more rain moving into the area. The Huskers made sure that the match didn't go into doubles play to decide the team outcome, securing the victory by winning five of the six singles matches.

Hendrik Stahmer and Renato Melo each won in straight sets at No. 4 and No. 5 singles, respectively. Calin Paar won his third straight match with a 7-5, 6-2 win at No. 2 singles, while Francois Van Impe improved to 2-1 at No. 3 singles with a 7-6 (4), 6-2 win. David Bendheim went to a third set for the fourth time in his last five matches, and came out on top with a 6-4, 6-7 (8), (10-8) win at No. 1 singles. The Huskers only loss on the day was a 7-6 (5), 6-3 loss at No. 6 singles.

The Huskers continue their six-match road trip next weekend with a trip to Hattiesburg, Miss., for matches against Southern Miss on March 21 and South Alabama on March 22.

“We're looking forward to playing Southern Miss and South Alabama on our spring trip,” said McDermott. “We're looking for some good competitive matches there.”

Results
Nebraska 5, South Carolina Upstate 1

Doubles
Was not played - weather concerns

Singles
No. 1 David Bendheim (NU) def. Sandy Franz (UPST), 6-4, 6-7 (8), (10-8)
No. 2 Calin Paar (NU) def. Renzo Airaldi (UPST), 7-5, 6-2
No. 3 Francois Van Impe (NU) def. Jack Roux (UPST), 7-6 (4), 6-2
No. 4 Hendrik Stahmer (NU) def. Javier Tori (UPST), 6-3, 6-2
No. 5 Renato Melo (NU) def. Sebastian Gonzalez-Orbregoso (UPST), 6-4, 6-1
No. 6 Arnalod Lovera (UPST) def. Mark Tate (NU), 7-6 (5), 6-3