Huskers Survive First Road Test

Wichita, Kan. - The Nebraska women’s tennis team survived its first road test of the season as it defeated No. 66 Wichita State 4-3 in Wichita, Kan., on Wednesday afternoon. The win improves Nebraska to 8-0 on the season and marks the first victory over a ranked opponent this season.

 

The teams took advantage of the weather and played outdoors, the first time for the No. 75 Huskers to play outside all season. The Huskers had a battle on their hands as they were playing what was probably the toughest opponent they had faced yet this spring.

 

“We played really well for the first time outdoors,” NU Head Coach Scott Jacobson said. “We felt like Wichita State is a program that deserves to be ranked in the top 40 in the country, so I think this was a better win than it might appear on paper.”

 

After splitting the Nos. 2 and 3 doubles, the doubles point was decided at the No. 1 spot, where Jana Albers and Madeleine Geibert for Nebraska played against WSU’s Anna Egorova and Stephanie Dalmacio. The Husker duo won the match 8-6, giving Nebraska what would turn out to be a crucial doubles point.

 

Wiveca Swarting made it 2-0 Nebraska with a 6-2, 6-3 win at No. 4 singles, and Mary Weatherholt made it 3-0 with a 6-4, 6-1 win at No. 2 singles, and Nebraska had the match firmly in hand. The Shockers wouldn’t go away quietly, however, winning three tightly contested matches at Nos. 1, 5 and 6 singles to even the match at 3-3.

 

It seemed fitting that the deciding match would come down to a third set tiebreaker, and that’s just what happened between Albers and Dalmacio at the No. 3 singles spot. Albers won the first set 6-4, but Dalmacio came back with a 7-6 (3) win in the second. Albers won the third set 7-6 (3), giving her and the Huskers the win.

 

“The thing I was most impressed with Jana is that she continued to hit out,” Jacobson said. “A lot of kids will tighten up in a close match like that, but she continued to play her game, and play without fear.”

 

The Huskers extended their non-conference winning streak to 23 matches, and will hope to make it 24 this weekend as it hosts Northern Iowa on Saturday. First serve is at 11 a.m. at the Nebraska Tennis Center.

 

Results

Doubles

No. 1 Albers/Geibert def. Egorova/Dalmacio, 8-6

No. 2 Budiharto/Lazaroiu def. Holmberg/Swarting, 8-4

No. 3 Ring/Weatherholt def. Ferreira/Hanisch, 8-4

 

Singles

No. 1 Anna Egorova def. Madeleine Geibert, 1-6, 6-1, 7-5

No. 2 Mary Weatherholt def. Lutfiana Budiharto, 6-4, 6-1

No. 3 Jana Albers def. Stephanie Dalmacio, 6-4, 6-7 (3), 7-6 (3)

No. 4 Wiveca Swarting def. Florentina Hanisch, 6-2, 6-3

No. 5 Torrie Browning def. Stephanie Evans, 6-4, 7-5

No. 6 Lenore Lazaroiu def. Jennifer Holmberg, 6-4, 7-6 (2)