Huskers Have Tough Opening Day at OU Invite

NORMAN, Okla. – The Nebraska men’s tennis team had a tough opening day at the OU Invitational. On Friday, the Huskers went 2-3 in singles play and 0-1 in doubles play.

 

"It was a tough day for our team, and it just shows that from one week to the next anything can happen,” Nebraska head coach Kerry McDermott said. “We keep telling our guys that you have to be ready when you step onto the court and be ready to compete. The level in college tennis has improved so much and there are no easy matches.”

 

The No. 1 overall seed in the tournament in NU’s Christopher Aumueller received a first round bye, but was upset in the second round by Oklahoma State’s Christ Haworth, 5-7, 6-1, 6-4. Aumueller will play in the consolation round on Saturday at 9 a.m. against Arkansas’ Nikolas Zogaj.

 

Also receiving a first round bye was Nebraska’s Tom Blackwell, however, Blackwell was defeated in the second round by OSU’s Dane Webb in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4. Blackwell will play Saturday morning against Tulsa’s Tristan Jackson at 9 a.m.

 

The No. 5 seed in the tournament was NU’s Benedikt Lindheim, who also received a first round by, but defeated Oklahoma’s Lawrence Formentera, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, in the second round. He’ll play OSU’s Vlad Bondarenko in the third round Saturday morning.

 

The fourth Husker participating in the singles tournament was Eric Sock who was defeated in the first round, 6-2, 5-7, 6-1, by OSU’s Eric West. Sock bounced back and was victorious in his consolation match when hedowned OU’s Ryan Proctor in straight sets, 6-1, 6-0. Sock will face Arkansas’ Manfred Jeske Saturday morning.

 

NU’s doubles team of Sock and Blackwell was downed by Tulsa’s duo of Ashley Watling and Tristan Jackson, 8-3. Nebraska’s other doubles team of Aumueller and Lindheim will square off against OSU’s team of Chris Haworth and Brandon Champagne on Saturday.

 

“Benedikt continues to play strong and we look for him to make a run for the singles title," McDermott said. “Aumueller, Eric [Sock], and Tom [Blackwell] all had some tough losses today, but hopefully learned from them and will comeback strong in the back draw. We feel good about Aumueller’s and Lindheim's doubles and they should also make a run for the doubles title this weekend."

 

The Huskers will be back in action on Saturday as they continue play at the OU Invite. Check back to Huskers.com for Saturday’s results.