Huskers Upset No. 54 Drake

Des Moines?The No. 62 Nebraska men’s tennis team won in impressive fashion on Wednesday night defeating the Drake Bulldogs by the score of 6-1 at the Drake Tennis Center in Des Moines, Iowa.  The win improves the Huskers’ record to 6-2 on the season and marks NU’s third victory over a ranked opponent this season. Drake, who entered the match ranked at No. 54 in the nation, drops to 2-4 on the year. 

After dropping the first doubles match at the No. 2 spot, the Huskers were able to take the next two matches to secure the doubles point.  At the No. 1 spot, David Bendheim and Calin Paar (NU) defeated Ivan Mendoza and Mauricio Ballivian (DU) 8-6.  The Huskers’ top duo has won three doubles matches in a row after losing their first five of the season.  Christopher Aumueller and Benedikt Lindheim (NU) handled Ricardo Lau and Maor Zirkin (DU) by the score of 8-5 at the No. 3 spot.

In singles, the Huskers won all but one match and were not taken to a third set in any of the five matches they won.  Paar (NU) continues his hot play by beating Ballivian (DU) 6-3, 6-4, at the No. 2 spot.  The win improves Paar’s singles record to 7-1 on the year and 7-0 at the No. 2 spot.  At the No. 3 spot, Aumueller (NU) defeated Evgeny Silitski (DU) 6-3, 6-4,  while Hendrik Stahmer took down Guilherme Marsiglia (DU) 6-3, 6-3, at the No. 4 spot.  Francois Van Impe (NU) and Lindheim (NU) both won in convincing fashion at the No. 5 and 6 spots to give the Huskers five of the six singles points.  Bendheim (NU) was the only Husker to go down, falling to No. 116 Zirkin (DU) 6-4, 6-3, at the No. 1 spot. 

Head coach Kerry McDermott was extremely pleased with the way his players performed.

“Our singles came out played extremely well,” McDermott said.  “This was a staple win for our team.  Drake is a very good team, and to win the No. 2 through No. 6 singles matches in convincing fashion is great.”

The Huskers will return to action on Feb. 27 when they take on Denver University in Denver, Colo., at 7:30 p.m.

Complete Results

NU 6, DU 1

Singles

No. 1 Maor Zirkin (DU) defeated David Bendheim (NU) 6-4, 6-3

No. 2 Calin Paar (NU) defeated Mauricio Ballivian (DU) 6-3, 6-4

No. 3 Christopher Aumueller (NU) defeated Evgeny Silitski (DU) 6-3, 6-4

No. 4 Hendrik Stahmer (NU) defeated Guilherme Marsiglia (DU) 6-3, 6-3

No. 5 Francois Van Impe (NU) defeated Ricardo Lau (DU) 6-2, 6-0

No. 6 Benedikt Lindheim (NU) defeated Ivan Mendoza (DU) 6-1, 6-2

 

Doubles

No. 1 David Bendheim and Calin Paar (NU) defeated Ivan Mendoza and Mauricio Ballivian (DU) 8-6

No. 2 Guilherme Marsiglia and Evgeny Silitski (DU) defeated Hendrik Stahmer and Francois Van Impe (NU) 8-4

No. 3 Christopher Aumueller and Benedikt Lindheim (NU) defeated Ricardo Lau and Maor Zirkin (DU) 8-5