Huskers Drop Match to Red Raiders

Lubbock, Texas---  The No. 38 Nebraska men's tennis team fell to the No. 14 Texas Tech Red Raiders, 4-3, on Friday, April 9, at the McLeod Tennis Center in Lubbock, Texas. The Huskers, who won their first Big 12 match in over two seasons against Oklahoma State last weekend,  dropped to 13-8 overall and 1-2 in conference play.

NU fell behind 1-0 after dropping all three doubles matches and losing the doubles point for the fifth straight time. The closest doubles match came at the No. 2 spot where Francois Van Impe and Benedikt Lindheim (NU) fell to the 40th-ranked doubles team of Gonzalo Escobar ad Andre Stabile (TTU) 8-7 (3).

In singles, No. 92 Calin Paar (NU) and Lindheim were able to regain the lead for the Husker after both of them won to start singles play. Lindheim was the first Husker off the court taking down Stabile (TTU) in straight sets at the No. 4 spot , while Paar defeated No. 72  Escobar (TTU) 6-4, 6-0, at the No. 2 position to give the Huskers a 2-1 edge.

Texas Tech battled back to tie the score when Rafael Garcia (TTU) took down Van Impe 6-4, 6-4, at the No. 3 spot. NU responded with their last singles victory of the day at the No. 5 spot where Andre Stenger (NU) improved to 3-0 in conference play with his victory over Vitor Manzini (TTU) 7-6 (7), 6-4.

Needing one more victory over the Red Raiders, the Huskers were not able to pull through falling in the final two matches at the No. 1 and 6 spots. Freshman Eric Sock (NU) was defeated by Raphael Pfister (TTU) at the No. 6 spot to tie the match at 3-3. David Bendheim (NU) took No. 6 Raony Carvalho (TTU) to a third set in the deciding match, but was not able to hold off Carvalho falling 6-1, 5-7, 6-3.

"We are not setting the world on fire with our doubles play and it's killing us right now," head coach Kerry McDermott said of the match. "Singles wise, we're right there with anybody in the country. It's another tough loss, and I guess we're going have to bite the bullet and see what we can do against Baylor on Sunday."

The Huskers return to the court on Sunday, April 11, to take on the No. 9 Baylor Bears in Waco, Texas. First serve is set for 6 p.m.

Full Results
NU 3, TTU 4
Singles
1. No. 6 Raony Carvalho (TTU) def. David Bendheim (NU) 6-1, 5-7, 6-3
2. No. 92 Calin Paar (NU) def. No. 72 Gonzalo Escobar (TTU) 6-4, 6-0
3. Rafael Garcia (TTU) def. Francois Van Impe (NU) 6-4, 6-4
4. Benedikt Lindheim (NU) def. Andre Stabile (TTU) 6-0, 6-2
5. Andre Stenger (NU) def. Vitor Manzini (TTU) 7-6 (9-7), 6-4
6. Raphael Pfister (TTU) def. Eric Sock (NU) 7-6 (10-8), 6-1

Doubles
1. No. 20 Raony Carvalho/Rafael Garcia (TTU) def. Calin Paar/David Bendheim (NU) 8-6
2. No. 40 Gonzalo Escobar/Andre Stabile (TTU) def. Benedikt Lindheim/Francois Van Impe (NU) 8-7 (7-3)
3. Vitor Manzini/David Gonzalez (TTU) def. Taylor Boney/Andre Stenger (NU) 8-2
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (4,2,3,5,6,1)