NU, Freshmen Finish Strong in Season-Opening Event

Midland, Texas – The Nebraska women’s tennis team heads home from the Midland Racquet Club Invitational with two more days of action under their belts. The Huskers took an additional five wins Saturday, before falling in the main draw singles semifinals on Sunday morning.

Showing promising potential, two Nebraska freshmen advanced through back draw singles on Saturday before meeting for a spot in the semifinals. Hayley Haakenstad pulled out a well-fought 2-6, 6-1 (10-8) victory over Anna Perez of Texas State before M’Balia Bangoura picked up a quick win against Haruka Sasaki of North Texas, ending with a 6-2, 6-1 final score. The Husker pair then battled each other, where Haakenstad defeated Bangoura 6-2, 6-4. Haakenstad fell in the semifinals to UT Arlington's Anna Wichert Sunday morning.

Nebraska's star doubles duo of Mary Hanna and Vasanti Shinde snagged the final two wins for the Huskers on Saturday. Hanna and Shinde secured an 8-1 victor over Ragon and Sisirak of UTA. The pair then followed with an 8-4 defeat of Pippa Carr and Alexandra Jones of Texas State. The fourth-seeded Husker duo then fell in the quarterfinals match against Erin Walker and Whitney Williams of ACU.

Next weekend, Nebraska travels to the Missouri Invitational in Kansas City, Mo. The invitational will run Friday, Sept. 23, through Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016. Fans can stay up-to-date with the Huskers by following the team on Twitter, @HuskersWTennis, or by visiting Huskers.com.  

Back Draw Singles
Saturday
Hayley Haakenstad (NEB) def. Anna Perez (Texas State), 2-6, 6-1 (10-8)
M’Balia Bangoura (NEB) def. Haruka Sasaki (North Texas), 6-2, 6-1
Hayley Haakenstad (NEB) def. M’Balia Bangoura (NEB) 6-2, 6-4

Sunday
Anna Wichert (UTA) def. Hayley Haakenstad (NEB), 6-7, 7-6, 10-6 (SEMIFINALS)

Main Draw Doubles
Saturday
Hanna/Shinde def. Ragon/Sisirak (UAB), 8-1
Hanna/Shinde (NEB) def. Carr/Jones (Texas State), 8-4
Walker/Williams (ACU) def. Matysova/Bangoura, 8-4
Walker/Williams (ACU) def. Hanna/Shinde (NEB), 8-3 (QUARTERFINALS)

Consolation Singles
Saturday
Matysova (NEB) def. Meichiers (Lamar) 6-3, 6-4
Reifeis (NEB) def. Lapayeva (Lamar) 6-2, 7-6(5)
Lozowski (NEB) def. Shukow (Penn State) 6-3, 6-3
Cortina Pou (Texas tech) def. Lozowski (NEB) 7-5, 6-4 

Sunday
Spangler (Lamar) def. Bangoura (NEB) 6-3, 3-6, 10-8
Kianoush (UAB) def. Mary Hanna (NEB) 7-5, 6-2
Sisirak (Lamar) def. Shinde (NEB) 6-4, 1-6, 10-8
Garrido-Rivas (TCU) def. Lozowski (NEB) 6-4, 7-6(5)
Matysova (NEB) def. Tedford (TCU) 6-2, 6-4
Kadzhaya (TCU) def. Andersson (NEB) 6-1, 6-2
Zenovka (TCU) def. Reifeis (NEB) 6-1, 6-4

Consolation Doubles
Saturday
Andersson/Reifeis (NEB) def. Navajo/Dench (Texas State) 8-3

Sunday
Andersson/Reifeis (NEB) def. Ragon/Sisirak (UAB) 8-3