Huskers Top Texas Tech

Norman, Okla. ? The Nebraska women’s team locked up the fourth seed in the Big 12 Championships with a 4-3 win over Texas Tech on Wednesday afternoon in Norman, Okla. The win improved NU’s record to 15-6 overall and 7-4 in the Big 12, and coupled with Colorado’s loss to Baylor on the day, gives Nebraska the four-seed and a first-round bye in the Championships, which start on Thursday.

 

For the third straight match, the Huskers had to come back after losing the doubles point, using strong singles play to propel them to victory. Head Coach Scott Jacobson mixed up the doubles lineups, but the team could only win one of the three, as Stephanie Evans and Mary Weatherholt earned a 8-6 win at the No. 3 position.

 

The Huskers came back strong in singles play, as Weatherholt and Albers gave the Huskers two quick points with straight-set wins at Nos. 1 and 3 singles, respectively. Texas Tech’s Natalie Lietch made it 2-2 with a win at No. 4 singles as the final three matches went to third sets.

 

Nebraska came out on top in two of the final three matches, as Madeleine Geibert at No. 2 singles and Evans at No. 6 singles won their third sets and gave the team its third and fourth points, clinching the match.

 

“One thing we’ve done repeatedly this year is maintain our composure after the doubles point,” Jacobson said. “We competed hard in singles again and played well.”

 

After finishing the regular season with a 7-4 Big 12 record, Nebraska earned its highest finish in the Big 12 since 2005 and its second-highest finish ever in the history of the conference.

 

“To get our second-highest finish in the Big 12 this season is quite an accomplishment,” Jacobson said. “Our win today also kept our hopes alive for the NCAA Tournament.”

 

The Huskers will have Thursday off before facing the winner of No. 12 Kansas State and No. 5 Colorado on Friday at Noon. If Nebraska wins that match, it would move on to the semifinals on Saturday at 3 p.m.           

 

Results

Doubles

No. 1 Garland/van der Drift def. Albers/Swarting, 8-5

No. 2 Peana/Potgieter def. Geibert/Holmberg, 8-4

No. 3 Evans/Weatherholt def. Lietch/Templeton, 8-6

 

Singles

No. 1 Mary Weatherholt def. Samantha van der Drift, 6-1, 6-2

No. 2 Madeleine Geibert def. Kelsy Garland, 6-1, 4-6, 6-2

No. 3 Jana Albers def. Simone Templeton, 6-3, 6-4

No. 4 Natalie Lietch def. Wiveca Swarting, 6-4, 6-2

No. 5 Stefanie Peana def. Jennifer Holmberg, 6-1, 1-6, 6-0

No. 6 Stephanie Evans def. Kyla Coleman, 2-6, 6-3, 6-3