Dzulynsky Upsets No. 1 Seed at ITA Regionals

Fayettevill, Ark. - The Nebraska men's tennis team began the first day of competition in the ITA Regional Championships held at the Dills Billingsley Tennis Center by the University of Arkansas. The team had a successful day of competition resulting in four of the five competitors moving on to the second day of singles competition. 

The first and second round of the singles competition began on Thursday. The four of the Huskers who will continue on the the third round of competition held on friday including Andrew Dzulynsky, Vasileios Stavropoulos, Marc Herrmann, and Dusty Boyer. 

At 9 am, Andrew Dzulynsky began the day's competition against Chase Gordon of Tulsa. Dzulynsky took the match going 6-4, 7-5. Dzylynsky really put the hammer down in his second match of the day against the No. 1 seed Matic Spec of Minnesota. Andrew produced a huge upset going 6-4 in the first match follwed by a second win of 6-4 in the following set. This defeat was a major asset for the Huskers and for Dzulynsky as he procedes in the tournament. 

Freshman Toby Boyer began his first match of competition against Drake's Ben Clark. Boyer won in a quick match going 6-3, 6-1. In the second match, Boyer faced a difficult match-up against Robin Haden of Iowa. Haden took the lead over Boyer in the first set producing a score of 6-3 followed by a tougher win in the second going 7-5. 

Scott Elsass took on Emerson Styles of South Dakota State in his opening round of the ITA Regional Championships. The two fought it out in the first set where Styles took the win with a score of 7-5. Elsass continued to battle through in the second but unfortunately came up short going 7-6(1) giving the win to Styles.

Junior Vasileios Stavropoulos competed against Omaha's Alex Woodward, a Lincoln native who played at Southwest High School. Stavropoulos snatched the win producing scores of 6-1, 6-2 over Woodward to push him to the next round of play. In his second round, Stavropoulos took on Jeremy Lynn of Minnesota. The duo had a tough match ultimately resulting in a win for Stavropoulos going 7-5, 7-5. 

Bradford Zitsch had a touch match-up against Santiago Munoz of Arkansas. Munoz took the upper hand in the first set going 6-4. Zitsch came back and put up a fight in the second set ultimately resulting in his loss going 7-6(7) in a tie-breaker.

Marc Herrmann had a successful first day beginning the first round against William Albanese of Arkansas. Herrmann gave Albanese no room to take the win in the first set going 6-0. Herrmann ultimately took the match going 6-4 in the second set. Continuing to the second round, Herrmann competed against Shane Trebisky of Southern Illinois. Herrmann managed to produce another impressive win going 6-4, 6-2, allowing him to move on to the second day of competition. 

Dusty Boyer was the final Husker to make it through his first two rounds with wins. No. 7 seed Boyer had a bye in his first roundpushing him on to the second. His only match-up of the day was against David Herrerias of Arkansas resulting in a quick defeat over his opponent going 6-2, 6-3. Boyer will continue competition in the second day of the singles draw. 

"Our team played very well today and got four of our seven guys through to the round of thirty-two in singles tomorrow," said Head Coach Kerry McDermott. "The first day was highlighted by senior Andrew Dzulynsky who took out the No. 1 seed and 38th ranked singles player in the country, Matic Spec, from Minnesota."

"Senior Mark Herrmann, junior Vasileios Stavropoulos, and senior Dusty Boyer each blazed through the first two rounds and are looking forward to advancing further into the draw as one round of singles will be played tomorrow. We will play two doubles matches to start the day on friday and are anxious to build on today's success. We are ready to compete hard tomorrow!"

Singles competition for the four remaining Huskes will continue on friday, Oct. 15 along with the start of the doubles competition. All results can be found here on Huskers.com.