Broncos End Huskers' Winning Streak In Finals

Boise, Idaho- After winning 13 straight matches, the Nebraska men’s tennis team dropped a 5-2 decision to No. 23 Boise State in the finals of the Boise State Red Lion Spring Break Tournament on Saturday. The loss was the Huskers’ first since losing to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Feb. 13. 

NU defeated Sacramento State and NAIA-power house Fresno Pacific to reach the finals against the Broncos, who fielded three nationally ranked singles players and a nationally ranked doubles team. The Huskers, who are now 16-3 overall, battled to the end against the highly ranked Broncos, taking three of the singles matches to three sets and nearly winning the doubles point.

In doubles, David Bendheim and Calin Paar were outlasted by No. 68 James Meredith and Kean Feeder (BSU) 9-8 at the No. 1 spot, while Christopher Aumueller and Benedikt Lindheim (NU) were defeated by Clancy Shields and Stanley Sarapanich (BSU) 8-3 at the No. 2 spot.  Francois Van Impe and Hendrik Stahmer were able to get a doubles victory for the Huskers by defeating Blane Sheilds and Matt Solomon (BSU) 8-2 at the No. 3 spot.

Aumueller (NU) led the Huskers in singles with his upset over No. 80 Meredith (BSU) at the No. 3 spot.  The freshman from Germany improved his record to 2-1 on the weekend in singles play.  The other Husker to pick up a victory in singles was Stahmer (NU), who took down Christian Hodel (BSU) in straight sets 6-2, 6-1. 

Leading 4-3 in the third set and serving, Bendheim (NU) was unable to secure the upset bid, falling to No. 36 Shields (BSU) 6-2, 4-6, 6-4, at the No. 1 spot. Head coach Kerry McDermott was happy with the effort of his team against the No. 23-ranked team in the nation, but said they must improve the way they finish matches as a team.

“We had chance to win the doubles point but didn’t, which gave them a little momentum going into the singles,” McDermott said. “I didn’t feel like we completed the match as a team.  The effort was there, we just came up short.  We’re going to learn from this and continue to work hard and prepare for Baylor and Oklahoma next week.”

The Huskers return to action on Saturday, April 4, when they open up Big 12 Conference play against Baylor at the Nebraska Tennis Center. First serve is set for 1 p.m.

Complete Results

NU 2, BSU 5

Singles

No. 1 No. 36 Clancy Shields (BSU) defeated David Bendheim (NU) 6-2, 4-6, 6-4

No. 2 No. 78 Kean Feeder (BSU) defeated Calin Paar (NU) 6-4, 7-6

No. 3 Christopher Aumueller (NU) defeated No. 80 James Meredith 6-3, 3-6, 6-2

No. 4 Hendrik Stahmer (NU) defeated Cristian Hodel (BSU) 6-2, 6-1

No. 5 Stanley Sarapanich (BSU) defeated Francois Van Impe (NU) 6-2, 6-1

No. 6 Blane Shields (BSU) defeated Benedikt Lindheim (NU) 6-3, 3-6, 6-4

Doubles

No. 1 No. 68 James Meredith and Kean Feeder (BSU) defeated David Bendheim and Calin Paar (NU) 9-8

No. 2 Clancy Shields and Stanley Sarapanich (BSU) defeated Christopher Aumueller and Benedikt Lindheim (NU) 8-3

No. 3 Francois Van Impe and Hendrik Stahmer (NU) Blane Shields and Matt Solomon (BSU) 8-2