Longhorns Edge Huskers, 4-3

Lincoln - The Nebraska women’s tennis team was narrowly defeated by No. 27 Texas on Saturday afternoon, losing 4-3 to the Longhorns at the Nebraska Tennis Center. The Huskers fell to 10-4 overall, including 2-3 in the Big 12, while the Longhorns improved their record to 10-4.

 

The Huskers dropped the doubles point, which ultimately proved to be the difference in the match. Maria Ring and Wiveca Swarting earned a victory at the No. 3 spot, but Texas took both No. 1 and No. 2 doubles, taking a 1-0 lead into singles play.

 

Nearly all the singles matches were close and competitive, with three of them going three sets. It was 2-1 Texas after the teams split a pair of singles matches. Mary Weatherholt won 6-1, 6-2 at No. 2 singles, earning her 28th singles win of the season, as she continues to close in on the all-time NU single-season record of 30. Texas’ Sarah Lancaster won at No. 5 singles by an identical 6-1, 6-2 score.

 

It was 3-1 Texas after Stephanie Davison’s 7-5, 6-4 victory at No. 6 singles. The Huskers wouldn’t go down without a fight, as Wiveca Swarting’s three-set victory at No. 4 singles closed the gap to 3-2. The Longhorns’ Maggie Mello sealed the match for Texas, winning 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 at No. 3 singles, giving Texas a 4-2 advantage. Madeleine Geibert closed the match with a three-set win at No. 1 singles, giving the Huskers their third point of the match.

 

“It was a hard-fought match with a lot of excitement,” Assistant Coach Hayden Perez said. “The girls played hard and competed very well. We have proven again that we are right there with teams ranked in the top 30 in the country. This team is prepared for this level of competition as we close out our season in the coming month.”

 

Nebraska will look to get back in the win column with a tough mid-week match at No. 50 Tulsa on Wednesday, April 1. Nebraska returns home next weekend with its final home matches of the season, playing Oklahoma State on Friday and Oklahoma on Sunday. Both matches will be played at the Nebraska Tennis Center.

 

Results

Doubles

No. 1 Damico/Milic def. Albers/Geibert, 8-5

No. 2 Davison/Larsson def. Holmberg/Weatherholt, 8-4

No. 3 Ring/Swarting def. Lancaster/Liu, 8-4

 

Singles

No. 1 Madeleine Geibert def. Caroline Larsson, 7-6 (3), 4-6, (10-6)

No. 2 Mary Weatherholt def. Krista Damico, 6-1, 6-2

No. 3 Maggie Mello def. Jana Albers, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2

No. 4 Wiveca Swarting def. Amanda Craddock, 6-0, 3-6, 6-3

No. 5 Sarah Lancaster def. Jennifer Holmberg, 6-1 6-2

No. 6 Stephanie Davison def. Ashley Finnegan, 7-5, 6-4