Huskers Name 2017-18 Captains

Lincoln, Neb. - The Nebraska women's tennis team has named its three captains for the 2017-18 season. Each captain for the program, displaying great leadership both on and off the court, will guide the team through the tennis season.

Earning the honor to represent the Huskers for the second year in a row is Katerina Matysova. The senior from Erding, Germany is a two-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and eight-time member of the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll. A gradute student, Matysova also has helped lead the Big Red women's tennis program to the Nebraska Herman Award after posting the highest women's team GPA of any Husker team in 2014. A winner of a Big Ten Sportsmanship Award in 2016 and two-time member of the Tom Osborne Citizenship Team, Matysova is working toward a master's degree in psychology. 

"Being a team captain to me means leading the team by setting the best example possible, giving my best on and off the court," Matysova said. 

Junior Paula Del Cueto Castillo will also lead the Huskers as a captain this year. Hailing from Sevilla, Spain, Castillo is a four-time member of the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll, a two-time member of the Tom Osborne Citizenship Team, as well as a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and Academic All-Big Ten honoree. The psychology major was also a recipient of the Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Award and the 2017 Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.

"I'm always going to be me no matter if I'm the captain or not," Castillo said, "but it's nice to be recognized by teammates and coaches to take on this leadership role."

Leading the Big Red this season as a sophomore is Hayley Haakenstad. In her first year at Nebraska, the Chanhassen, Minn., native earned a spot on the Tom Osborne Citizenship Team and was a two-time member of the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll. The mathematics major said it is an honor to be named a captain for the team, and that she's excited to compete alongside her teammates in the spring.

"My philosophy with leadership is that it's important to connect with your teammates and develop that trusting relationship," Haakenstad said. "I also make it a goal to show up to practice everyday ready to work and with a smile on my face. Some days are better than others, but it's amazing to see how contagious the energy can be."

Head Coach Scott Jacobson is confident the three will be exemplary leaders for the team this season.

"Kati, Hayley and Paula all have tremendous leadership skills and are selfless in nature," Jacobson said. "The three of them consistently lead by example, give their best effort in all practices and competition, and are incredibly positive. They see goodness in their teammates yet understand the importance of accountability in a team setting. We are grateful for the example that they set both for the University of Nebraska and our Husker family."