Huskers Drop Opener at Vanderbilt

Nashville -- The Nebraska men's tennis team (0-1, 0-0 Big Ten) picked up a pair of singles victories but open the 2020 season with a loss to the Vanderbilt Commodores, 5-2, on Saturday afternoon at the Currey Tennis Center. 

Nebraska earned singles wins from Victor Moreno Lozano at the No. 2 spot and Shunya Maruyama at No. 5. Moreno Lozano fought his way back, rallying from a 6-2 setback in the first set to earn a second set win at 6-4. He completed the comeback with a 7-6 (4-0) win in the decisive third set.

Maruyama also rallied after dropping the first set 6-4, storming back with a 6-4 win in the second before taking the match with a decisive 6-3 win in the third.

Albert Sprlak-Puk competed well out of the No. 1 spot for the Huskers, dropping a hard-fought three-set match to Vanderbilt's George Harwell (1-6, 6-4, 3-6). Nebraska's Andre Saleh also suffered a three-set defeat at No. 4 singles to Vandy's Marcus Ferreira (6-2, 4-6, 6-1).

At No. 3 singles, Husker Patrick Cacciatore suffered a 6-2, 6-4 setback to Vanderbilt's Max Freeman, while freshman Chester Wickwire took a straight-set loss to the Commodores' Joubert Klopper (6-0, 6-2).

In doubles competition, the Huskers dropped a pair of matches as the traditionally strong Commodores earned the point. Vandy's top tandem of Billy Rowe and Panu Virtanen posted a 6-2 win over the No. 1 Nebraska pair of Albert Sprlak-Puk and Patrick Cacciatore. At No. 3 doubles, Huskers Bradley Mittleman and Victor Moreno Lozano suffered a narrow 6-4 setback to Christian Worst and Marcus Ferreira.

At No. 2 doubles, Andre Saleh teamed with Shunya Maruyama in a hard-fought match against Vanderbilt's Max Freeman and George Harwell. The Huskers trailed 5-4 in a match that went unfinished after the Commodores earned the team point.

The Huskers return to action on Monday afternoon to take on Baylor in Waco, Texas at 1:30 p.m. Results

Singles

1. George Harwell (VAN) def. Albert Sprlak Puk (NEB), 1-6, 6-4, 3-6
2. Victor Moreno Lozano (NEB) def. Billy Rowe (VAN), 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (4-0)
3. Max Freeman (VAN) def. Patrick Cacciatore (NEB), 6-2, 6-4
4. Marcus Ferreira (VAN) def. Andre Saleh (NEB), 6-2, 4-6, 6-1
5. Shunya Maruyama (NEB) def. Panu Virtanen (VAN), 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
6. Joubert Klopper (VAN) def. Chester Wickwire (NEB), 6-0, 6-2 

Doubles
1. Billy Rowe/Panu Virtanen (VAN) def. Albert Sprlak-Puk/Patrick Cacciatore (NEB), 6-2
2. Max Freeman/George Harwell (VAN) vs. Andre Saleh/Shunya Maruyama (NEB), 5-4 (unfinished)
3. Christian Worst/Marcus Ferreira (VAN) def. Bradley Mittleman/Victor Moreno Lozano (NEB), 6-4

Match Notes
Order of Finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (3, 1, 4, 5, 2, 6)