Huskers Open Season with Outing at Denver Invite

Denver, Colo. – The Nebraska men’s tennis teamkicked off its fall season in Denver, Colo., at the Denver Invite on Fridaygoing 3-1 in singles play and 0-2 in doubles play.

 

In singles play, at the No. 4 spot, NU’s Tom Blackwell defeated Air Forces Grant Taltor, 6-3, 7-6. At the No. 5 spot for Nebraska was Rob Schulze who was victoriousover Stephen Katein (Air Force), 6-4, 7-6. Winning the third match for the Huskers in singles play was Drew Freeman who defeated Mike Tope of Air Force, 6-1, 6-0. Nebraska’s lone defeat came when Air Force’s Joey Brandt defeated Brandon Videtich, 3-6, 7-6, 7-6.

 

After the match, Nebraska’s head coach Kerry McDermott felt that the squad played well in singles.

 

“It’s good to get the season started, and I felt we played pretty good singles this morning,” McDermott said. “Brandon [Videtich] had a tough three setter that could have gone his way but didn't and that's tennis. Hopefully he learns from the loss and it makes him a better player in the future.”

 

In doubles play, the Huskers were defeated at the No. 2 spot by Carl Ho and James Hignett of New Mexico, 8-4. Ho and Hignett defeated the tandem of Schulze and Videtich. At the No. 3 spot New Mexico’s Phil Anderson and Matt Neeld defeated NU’s Blackwell and Freeman, 8-3.

 

“We got beat by some good teams today,” McDermott said. “We need to get better off return of the serve and moving forward.”

 

The Huskers will return to action on Saturday morning at the Denver invite.