Reimers Leads Huskers to Victory on Senior Day

Lincoln - The Nebraska women's tennis team snapped a two-match losing streak behind strong singles play on Senior Day on Sunday in a 6-1 victory over Kansas State. The Huskers finished the regular season with a 16-6 overall and a 5-6 Big 12 record, while KSU ended its regular season with a 7-13 overall and 3-8 Big 12 record.

Sunday's match marked the last home match for lone NU senior Imke Reimers, one of the most decorated athletes in women's tennis history. Reimers is currently second all-time in career singles wins, first in career doubles wins, second in career combined wins and first in career singles winning percentage. Reimers added to her totals today with wins at both doubles and singles.

Reimers and teammate Jana Albers won 8-0 at No. 1 doubles to start the match, improving the duo's Big 12 doubles record to 8-3. The Huskers couldn't come up with a victory in the other two doubles matches, including a close 9-8 (6) loss at No. 2 doubles, and the Wildcats took a 1-0 lead into singles play.

That would be the last point Kansas State would get on the day, however, as Nebraska was dominant in singles play. Albers started off with a 6-3, 6-0 win at No. 3 singles, followed closely by Stephanie Evans' 6-4, 6-1 win at No. 4 and Reimers' 6-4, 6-0 win at No. 1 singles, quickly giving the Huskers a 3-1 lead. Amber Chandronnait clinched the match for Nebraska with a 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 5 singles, and Ashley Finnegan at No. 6 and Wiveca Swarting at No. 2 each added three-set victories to give Nebraska its fifth and sixth points.

“I'm very happy, especially for Imke on Senior Day,” said NU Head Coach Scott Jacobson. “I think the kids really fought hard in honor of her, to recognize all that she's contributed to our Husker family over the years. You could tell by the way we competed that their hearts were in it for Imke, and it's great to send her off on Senior Day in such a positive fashion.”

The Huskers will await to hear what seed they will be given for the Big 12 Championships next week in College Station, Texas. The tournament begins on Thursday, April 24, and goes to Sunday, April 27.

“Our conference is strong, but I really believe that no any given day we're capable of competing with anyone in our conference,” Jacobson said. “All you can do is just ask our team to give it their best effort, and I'm confident that will happen, and we'll let the results take care of themselves.”

Results
Nebraska 6, Kansas State 1

Doubles
No. 1 Albers/Reimers (NU) def. Klimova/Kudlackova (KSU), 8-0
No. 2 Cottin/Huljev (KSU) def. Evans/Ring (NU), 9-8 (6)
No. 3 Vieira/Yrureta (KSU) def. Chandronnait/Swarting (NU), 8-4

Singles
No. 1 Imke Reimers (NU) def. Viviana Yrureta (KSU), 6-4, 6-0
No. 2 Wiveca Swarting (NU) def. Antea Huljev (KSU), 5-7, 6-4, (10-8)
No. 3 Jana Albers (NU) def. Katerina Kudlackova (KSU), 6-3, 6-0
No. 4 Stephanie Evans (NU) def. Vanessa Cottin (KSU), 6-4, 6-1
No. 5 Amber Chandronnait (NU) def. Natasha Vieira (KSU), 6-2, 6-2
No. 6 Ashley Finnegan (NU) def. Olga Klimova (KSU), 3-6, 6-0, 6-1