%20--%3e%3csvg%20version='1.1'%20id='Nebraska_N'%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns:xlink='http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20x='0px'%20y='0px'%20viewBox='0%200%20163%20152'%20style='enable-background:new%200%200%20163%20152;'%20xml:space='preserve'%3e%3cstyle%20type='text/css'%3e%20.st0{fill:%23FFFFFF;}%20%3c/style%3e%3cg%3e%3cpath%20class='st0'%20d='M159.1,144c-2.3,0-4.1,1.8-4.1,4s1.8,4,4,4s4-1.8,4-4S161.2,144,159.1,144z%20M159,151.2c-1.8,0-3.2-1.4-3.2-3.2%20s1.4-3.2,3.2-3.2c1.7,0,3.2,1.5,3.2,3.2C162.2,149.8,160.8,151.2,159,151.2z'/%3e%3cg%3e%3cpath%20class='st0'%20d='M157.4,145.6h1.4c0.6,0,0.8,0,1.1,0.2c0.4,0.2,0.6,0.6,0.6,1.1c0,0.4-0.1,0.7-0.3,1c-0.1,0.2-0.3,0.2-0.6,0.4%20h-0.1l1.1,2.1h-0.8l-1-2h-0.6v2h-0.8L157.4,145.6L157.4,145.6z%20M158.6,147.7c0,0,0.3,0,0.4,0c0.4-0.1,0.6-0.3,0.6-0.8%20c0-0.3-0.1-0.5-0.4-0.6c-0.1,0-0.1,0-0.6,0h-0.4v1.4L158.6,147.7L158.6,147.7z'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/g%3e%3cg%3e%3cpath%20class='st0'%20d='M147,0H93h-5v5v35v5h5h5v24.8L55.2,2.3L53.7,0H51H5H0v5v35v5h5h5v62H5H0v5v35v5h5h54h5v-5v-35v-5h-5h-5V82.2%20l42.8,67.5l1.5,2.3h2.7h46h5v-5v-35v-5h-5h-5V45h5h5v-5V5V0H147z%20M150,5v35v3h-3h-7v66h7h3v3v35v3h-3h-46h-1.6l-0.9-1.4L52,75.3%20V109h7h3v3v35v3h-3H5H2v-3v-35v-3h3h7V43H5H2v-3V5V2h3h46h1.7l0.9,1.4L100,76.7V43h-7h-3v-3V5V2h3h54h3V5z'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cpath%20class='st0'%20d='M103,87L103,87L51,5H5v35c0,0,7.8,0,10,0c0,3.3,0,68.7,0,72l0,0c-2.2,0-10,0-10,0v35h54v-35c0,0-7.8,0-10,0l0,0%20c0-2.6,0-47,0-47l52,82h46v-35c0,0-7.8,0-10,0l0,0c0-3.3,0-68.7,0-72c2.2,0,10,0,10,0V5H93v35c0,0,7.8,0,10,0%20C103,42.6,103,87,103,87z'/%3e%3c/svg%3e)
After a pair of wins over UNO and North Dakota on opening day of the 2016 season last Saturday, Nebraska competes against its first ranked opponent on Friday when the Huskers face No. 52 Denver at 7 p.m. at the Sid and Hazel Dillon Tennis Center. Nebraska then hosts on No. 46 Oregon on Sunday at 2 p.m.
Nebraska is 2-0 this season after an impressive performance last weekend. The Huskers began their season with a 6-1 win over Omaha before sweeping North Dakota, 7-0. Andrew Dzulynsky and Marc Herrmann both went 4-0 last weekend, winning a pair of doubles and singles matches. The brother duo of Dusty and Toby Boyer went 1-0 in doubles play and each player went 2-0 in singles action.
Tomislav Antoljak also went 3-0 last weekend with a pair of singles victories, while Scott Elsass recorded two doubles victories en route to a 3-0 record. Bradford Zitsch went 2-0 in doubles action against UNO and North Dakota, while Chris Schindler teamed up with Antoljak to earn a victory at No. 3 doubles against North Dakota.
NU Looks to Gain Ground in the ITA Rankings
Nebraska looks to rise in the ITA Rankings this season, which would also bode well for the Huskers’ chances in a tough Big Ten Conference. Currently, the Big Ten has five teams in the ITA top 25. Illinois is ranked No. 7, Ohio State is tied for the No. 8 spot, Northwestern is 21st and Minnesota comes in at No. 22.
The Huskers could help their cause with a win over No. 52 Denver on Friday. NU also faces No. 46 Oregon on Sunday. Nebraska has cracked the final ITA top-75 rankings five times since 2009.
Scouting the Denver Pioneers
Denver is 1-1 this season after splitting a pair of matches at the ITA Kickoff last weekend. The Pioneers defeated South Carolina, 4-3, before falling to host Ohio State, 4-0. Denver enters today’s match with a No. 52 national ranking.
Scouting the Oregon Ducks
Oregon enters play this weekend with a No. 46 national ranking. The Ducks began the year with four straight victories, including victories over No. 54 UC Santa Barbara (7-0) and No. 56 Old Dominion (4-1). Oregon suffered its lone loss last Sunday at No. 4 Baylor (4-2). Before facing Nebraska on Sunday, the Ducks will take on No. 52 Denver on Saturday.
Looking Ahead
Following its two matches this weekend, Nebraska wraps up a season-opening five-match homestand on Sunday, Feb. 7 against UMKC at the Dillon Tennis Center. The match begins at 3 p.m. and admission is free.