Klousia, Moreno Start Strong at ITA Regionals

Tulsa, Okla. -- Junior Micah Klousia and freshman Victor Moreno Lozano advanced to the singles round of 32 on Thursday to lead Nebraska on its first day of competition at the ITA Central Regionals, hosted by the University of Tulsa. 

In doubles play, senior Toby Boyer and Klousia also advanced to the round of 32 after beating Lukas Buth and Nejc Sitar of North Dakota, 8-6 (7). Boyer and Klousia will face No. 1 Oscar Mesquida/Adam Sanjurjo (Arkansas) on Friday at 9 a.m. CT.

Victor Moreno started off singles competition with a 6-3, 6-2 upset over No. 25 Alexandre Reco of Arkansas. Moreno then knocked off Boriss Kamdem (Tulsa) in a quick 6-1, 6-2 victory to advance to the round of 32. Moreno is set to play No. 7 Jake Van Emburgh (Oklahoma) on Friday at 1 p.m. CT. 

Klousia beat Freddie Powell of Drake in three sets, 6-1, 1-6, 6-0, before upsetting No. 25 Vlad Lobak (Minnesota), 6-4, 6-4. Klousia will compete for a spot in the round of 16 against No. 15 Matej Vocel (Oklahoma State) on Friday at 4 p.m. CT.

Freshman William Gleason defeated Jason Kerst (Iowa), 6-1, 7-6 (6) in his first match of the day. In the round of 64, Gleason won the first set in a thrilling tiebreaker against No. 2 Ferran Calvo of Oklahoma, but ultimately lost in three, 6-7 (6), 6-1, 6-1. 

Junior Chris Dean overcame Marcello Moreira of Oral Roberts, 6-4, 6-3 to advance to the round of 64. Following that match, Dean fell short to the 2017 ITA Central Regional singles champion, No. 4 Stefan Milicevic (Minnesota), 6-1, 6-1. 

After earning a bye in the first round, No. 10 Boyer dropped a hard-fought contest to Brady Draheim of Oklahoma State, 6-3, 6-4. In the round of 128, senior Jon Meyer fell to Enrique Paya (Arkansas), 6-2, 6-1 while junior Alvaro Moreno lost a tough one to Joe Tyler of Iowa, 6-4, 6-4. 

In other doubles action, Dean and Meyer dropped an 8-4 match to Barnabas Koncz/Andre Russo (Oral Roberts), while Gleason/Victor Moreno fell to Jochen Bertsch/Max Stewart (Oklahoma), 8-6. 

At the end of the day, Meyer defeated Anil Patel (UMKC), 6-4, 6-2, and Alvaro Moreno fell short to Tom Thelwall-Jones of Tulsa, 6-4, 6-2 in out-of-bracket consolation matches. 

The tournament continues Friday at 9 a.m. CT with a round of singles and two rounds of doubles. Times and rounds are subject to change due to expected weather in the area.

Fans can follow live streaming and scoring at streamingtennis.com/tulsa. Results will be also posted on Huskers.com and @HuskerMTennis on Twitter. 

Results (Thursday)

Singles

Round of 128

Victor Moreno Lozano def. No. 25 Alexandre Reco (Arkansas), 6-3, 6-2

Micah Klousia def. Freddie Powell (Drake), 6-1, 1-6, 6-0

William Gleason def. Jason Kerst (Iowa), 6-1, 7-6 (6)

Chris Dean def. Marcello Moreira (Oral Roberts), 6-4, 6-3

Enrique Paya (Arkansas) def. Jon Meyer, 6-2, 6-1

Joe Tyler (Iowa) def. Alvaro Moreno Lozano, 6-4, 6-4

Round of 64

Victor Moreno Lozano def. Boriss Kamdem (Tulsa), 6-1, 6-2

Micah Klousia def. No. 25 Vlad Lobak (Minnesota), 6-4, 6-4

No. 4 Stefan Milicevic (Minnesota) def. Chris Dean, 6-1, 6-1

No. 2 Ferran Calvo (Oklahoma) def. William Gleason, 6-7 (6), 6-1, 6-1

Brady Draheim (Oklahoma State) def. No. 10 Toby Boyer, 6-3, 6-4

Consolation (out-of-bracket matches)

Jon Meyer def. Anil Patel (UMKC), 6-4, 6-2

Tom Thelwall-Jones (Tulsa) def. Alvaro Moreno Lozano, 6-4, 6-2

Doubles

Round of 64

Toby Boyer/Micah Klousia def. Lukas Buth/Nejc Sitar (North Dakota), 8-7 (6)

Barnabas Koncz/Andre Russo (Oral Roberts) def. Chris Dean/Jon Meyer, 8-4

Jochen Bertsch/Max Stewart (Oklahoma) def. William Gleason/Victor Moreno Lozano, 8-6