Huskers Defeat Cyclones, 5-2

Lincoln, NEB.--The Nebraska women's tennis team defeated Iowa State 5-2 Sunday morning at the Dillon Tennis Center. The Huskers improve to 7-3 on the season, including a 6-0 record at home while the Cyclones slip to 7-3. In 2019, Iowa State came into Lincoln, defeating Nebraska 4-3.

Doubles
Nebraska came out on fire in doubles, picking up wins at No. 1 and No. 3. Twins, Chloe and Ellie Kuckelman improve to 3-1 at the No. 3 spot after a 6-3 win over ISU. At No. 1, Kristina Novak and Hayley Haakenstad improve to 2-1 as a pair after defeating the Cyclones 6-3.

Singles
With a 1-0 advantage in the match, Haakenstad got out to a fast start at No. 6. The senior from Chanhassen, Minn., put the Huskers up 2-0 with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Margarita Timakova. With the win, Haakenstad remains undefeated this season with a 4-0 singles record. 

Novak was the next Husker to strike, defeating her opponent Maty Cancini 6-1, 6-2 at the No. 2 spot. The freshman from Radovljica, Slovenia, improves to 5-2 on the year, including a 3-1 record at No. 2 singles. 

The match was clinched when Ellie Kuckelman defeated Chie Kezuka 6-3, 6-0 at No. 5., Kuckelman is now 5-3 this spring with a 2-1 record at the No. 5 spot.

Play continued with the Huskers leading 4-0-Chloe Kuckelman slipped to 6-4 on the year after suffering a 7-5, 6-3 loss to Ting-Pei Chang. 

Claire Reifeis fought back after falling in the first set to defeat Thasapom Naklo of ISU 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 at No. 1. Reifeis improves to 4-3 in singles play on the year.

Isabel Adrover Gallego dropped her first match of the season after falling to Christin Hsieh in three sets, 7-5, 6-7(3), 10-6.

Up Next:
NU prepares to hit the road this Wednesday for their first Big Ten matchup of the season against Rutgers. The Huskers and the Scarlet Knights square-off in Piscataway, N.J. at 12:30 p.m. CT. 

Results
Singles 
1. Claire Reifeis (NEB) def. Thasapom Naklo (ISU) 2-6, 6-4, 6-4
2. Kristina Novak (NEB) def. Maty Cancini (ISU) 6-1, 6-2
3. Christin Hsieh (ISU) def. Isabel Adrover Gallego 5-7, 7-6(3), 10-6
4. Ting-Pei Chang (ISU) def. Chloe Kuckelman (NEB) 7-5, 6-3
5. Ellie Kuckelman (NEB) def. Chie Kezuka (ISU) 6-3, 6-0
6. Hayley Haakenstad (NEB) def. Margarita Timakova (ISU) 6-1, 6-3

Doubles
1. Hayley Haakenstad/Kristina Novak (NEB) def. Thasapom Naklo/Christin Hsieh (ISU) 6-3
2. Claire Reifeis/Isabel Adrover Gallego (NEB) vs. Maty Cancini/Ting-Pei Chang (ISU) 4-3, unfinished 
3. Chloe Kuckelman/Ellie Kuckelman (NEB) def. Chie Kezuka/Margarita Timakova (ISU) 6-3

Match Notes:
Nebraska: 7-3
Iowa State: 7-3
Order of Finish: Singles (6,2,5,4,1,3); Doubles (3,1)
Attendance: 110