Huskers Sweep Singles Matches, Take Down Ducks

Provo, Utah--- After dropping the doubles point and falling behind 1-0, the No. 36 Nebraska men's tennis team rallied to win all six singles matches to defeat the No. 65 Oregon Ducks, 6-1, on Friday, March 12. The Huskers, who defeated their third ranked opponent of the season, extended their current win streak to six matches and improved their record to 9-3. The Ducks, who entered the Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings this week, fell to 11-4 with the loss.

The Huskers didn't get off to the start they were hoping for by dropping the No. 1 and 3 doubles matches. Alexander Cornelissen and Marco Verdasco (OR) defeated No. 54 Calin Paar and David Bendheim (NU) at the No. 1 spot, while Benedikt Lindheim and Francois Van Impe fell for only the second time of the season at the No. 3 position. The lone bright spot for NU in doubles came at the No. 2 spot where Christopher Aumueller and Andre Stenger (NU) defeated Ric Mortera and Nico Bjerke (OR) 8-3.

The Huskers bounced back from the doubles point and made sure their sluggish play in doubles didn't carry over into the singles competition by sweeping all six matches. Playing at the No. 1 spot for the first time this season, No. 82 Calin Paar defeated No. 83 Cornelissen (OR) 6-4, 6-1, to claim his first victory over a ranked opponent this season. The junior now owns a 10-1 overall record. No. 113 Aumueller (NU) played in the most competitive match of the day defeating Verdasco (OR) in three sets 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, at the No. 2 spot.  

Benedikt Lindheim was most dominant in his match taking down Clissold (OR) 6-0, 6-0, at the No. 5 spot, while Van Impe (NU) collected his team leading 11th victory after taking down Bjerke (OR) 6-2, 6-4, at the No. 4 spot. Head coach Kerry McDermott was disappointed with how the Huskers played in doubles, but was pleased with the way they didn't let it carry over into their singles matches.

"We came out a little flat and didn't perform like we needed to," McDermott said. "I think they guys were disappointed in the way that they played and took it as a challenge to come back and play more competitive in singles. They didn't let the doubles point effect their singles play and rose to the occasion. It was a good match for us."

The Huskers will return to action on Saturday, March 13, when the take on the No. 23 BYU Cougars. First serve is set for noon.

Full Results
NU 6, OR 1
Doubles
1.  Alexander Cornelissen/Marcos Verdasco (OR) defeated No. 54 Calin Paar/David Bendheim (NU) 8-3
2.  Christopher Aumueller/Andre Stenger (NU) defeated Ric Mortera/Nico Bjerke (OR) 8-3
3.  Aaron Clissold/Jose Izquierdo (OR) defeated Benedikt Lindheim/Francois Van Impe (NU)8-5
Singles
1. No. 82 Calin Paar (NU) defeated No. 83 Alexander Cornelissen (OR) 6-4, 6-1
2. No. 113 Christopher Aumueller (NU) defeated Marcos Verdasco (OR) 6-3, 4-6, 6-2
3. David Bendheim (NU) defeated Ric Mortera (OR) 6-4, 6-1
4. Francois Van Impe defeated Nico Bjerke (OR) 6-2, 6-4
5. Benedikt Lindheim (NU) defeated Aaron Clissold (OR) 6-0, 6-0
6. Andre Stenger (NU) defeated Duncan MacDonald-Korth (OR) 6-2, 7-6