Husker Fall Just Short Against New Mexico

Lincoln - The Nebraska men's tennis team suffered its third 4-3 loss of the season on Sunday when they fell by that score to the No. 54 New Mexico Lobos at the Nebraska Tennis Center. The loss drops the Huskers to 5-8 overall, while New Mexico improves to 10-6.

After defeating its first ranked opponent of the season on Friday over Western Michigan, Nebraska fell just short in making it two in a row over a ranked team. The Huskers lost all three doubles points to start the match, which was once again the difference in the team outcome. The doubles point has been especially crucial for the Huskers this season; they are 0-7 when they lose it, and 5-0 when they win it.

“Once again, I felt like we competed hard, but we came out on the short end of the stick,” NU Head Coach Kerry McDermott said.

Both teams were evenly matches in singles, as four sets went into tiebreakers. New Mexico's Kamil Pajkowski made it 2-0 New Mexico after a 6-2, 6-0 victory over NU's Tobias Schneider at No. 6 singles. Francois Van Impe then put the Huskers on the board at No. 4 singles, defeating Graeme Kassautzki 7-6 (3), 6-0.

Johnny Parkes put the Lobos on the brink of victory with a 7-6 (2), 6-3 win over Calin Paar to make it 3-1 New Mexico. David Bendheim kept the Huskers in it with a 6-3, 0-6, 6-4 victory over 40th-ranked Max Jones at No. 1 singles.

“It was a big win for David to finally beat a ranked player,” said McDermott. “He's playing great against the best guys in the country. Francois is playing really well too, and they're showing our team that if you work hard every day good things are going to happen.”

Chris Parkes clinched the victory for the Lobos with after topping Renato Melo at No. 5 singles 6-2, 7-6 (5). Hendrik Stahmer continued to battle with his opponent at No. 3 singles despite the fact that the team result was already decided. Stahmer won a third set supertiebreaker and took the match, 7-6 (4), 2-6, (10-7), accounting for the final Nebraska point.

“Hendrik showed great spirit to continue to fight hard,” McDermott said. “We need to have our guys fighting all the way to the end, and that's what we need to be known for.”

The Huskers head east next weekend for the start of a six-match road trip, beginning with three matches in Johnson City, Tenn. Nebraska plays Indiana State on Friday in Johnson City, before taking on hometown East Tennessee State Saturday morning and South Carolina Upstate Saturday afternoon. The Huskers won't play another home match until their Big 12 opener against Oklahoma State on April 4.

Results
New Mexico 4, Nebraska 3

Doubles
No. 1 Jones/Pajkowski (NMU) def. Bendheim/Schneider (NU), 8-3
No. 2 Parkes/Parkes (NMU) def. Paar/Tate (NU), 8-2
No. 3 Kassautzki/Wood (NMU) def. Stahmer/Van Impe (NU), 8-7 (3)

Singles
No. 1 David Bendheim (NU) def. Max Jones (NMU), 6-3, 0-6, 6-4
No. 2 Johnny Parkes (NMU) def. Calin Paar (NU), 7-6 (2), 6-3
No. 3 Hendrik Stahmer (NU) def. Miles Bugby (WMU), 7-6 (4), 2-6, (10-7)
No. 4 Francois Van Impe (NU) def. Graeme Kassautzki (NMU), 7-6 (3), 6-0
No. 5 Chris Parkes (NMU) def. Renato Melo (NU), 6-2, 7-6 (5)
No. 6 Kamil Pajkowski (NMU) def. Tobias Schneider (NU), 6-2, 6-0