Huskers Fall Just Short to Shockers, 4-3

Lincoln -- The Nebraska men's tennis team (7-9, 0-0 Big Ten) fell just short to the Wichita State Shockers (8-7, 0-0 AAC), 4-3, on Friday night at the Dillon Tennis Center in Lincoln. 

The Huskers started off with a great performance in doubles, winning the team point for the first time since Feb. 9 in a 4-0 home win over Omaha.

Senior Toby Boyer and freshman William Gleason teamed up at the No. 1 spot to defeat Murkel Dellien/Eddie Stoica, 6-3, while junior Chris Dean and sophomore Isaac Nortey beat Austin Williams/Marius Frosa at No. 3, 6-4. 

In singles play, Orel Ovil overcame senior Jon Meyer, 6-1, 6-2 to tie the match at 1-1. 

Boyer advanced to an 11-2 spring record after knocking Dellien at No. 1, 6-4, 6-2.

Klousia dropped a tough 6-2, 6-3 contest to Haru Inoue at No. 2, but Gleason bested Frosa, 6-4, 6-4 at the No. 3 position to put Nebraska up 3-2.

Stoica earned a 6-4, 7-5 win over freshman Victor Moreno Lozano at the No. 4 spot to tie the match at 3-3. 

At this point, Dean and Stefan Latinovic battled for a match-deciding contest at the No. 3 spot. Dean fought hard after being down 5-3 in the third set and tied it at 5-5, but Latinovic's strong serve led him to a hard-fought 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 win to clinch the match for the Shockers. 

Up next, the Huskers will travel to Los Angeles, Calif., for their spring break trip to face off with the Loyola Marymount Lions. The matchup is set for Wednesday, March 20 at 3 p.m. CT. 

Results

Singles

1. Toby Boyer (NU) def. Murkel Dellien (WSU) 6-4, 6-2

2. Haru Inoue (WSU) def. Micah Klousia (NU) 6-2, 6-3

3. William Gleason (NU) def. Marius Frosa (WSU) 6-4, 6-4

4. Eddie Stoica (WSU) def. Victor Moreno Lozano (NU) 6-4, 7-5

5. Stefan Latinovic (WSU) def. Chris Dean (NU) 4-6, 6-3, 7-5

6. Orel Ovil (WSU) def. Jon Meyer (NU) 6-1, 6-2

Doubles

1. Toby Boyer/William Gleason (NU) def. Murkel Dellien/Eddie Stoica (WSU) 6-3

2. Micah Klousia/Victor Moreno Lozano (NU) vs. Haru Inoue/Stefan Latinovic (WSU) 5-6, unfinished

3. Chris Dean/Isaac Nortey (NU) def. Austin Williams/Marius Frosa (WSU) 6-4

Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (6,1,2,3,4,5)

A-106