Nebraska's Comeback Falls Short

Wichita, Kan. – The Nebraska men's tennis team (4-4, 0-0 Big Ten) came up just short in its outdoor spring debut against Wichita State (6-5, 0-0 American Athletic) on Sunday afternoon, losing 4-3 at the Coleman Tennis Complex.
 
The Huskers got off to a strong start in doubles play, with Roni Hietaranta and Lars Johann picking up the first doubles win on Court 3, 6-4. Wichita State quickly answered as Misha Kvantaliani and Orel Ovil bested William Gleason and Leo Linquet 7-5 on Court 2. The Shockers clinched the doubles point as Kristof Minarik and Alex Richards beat Nebraska's Shunya Maruyama and Nic Wiedenhorn, 6-4, on Court 1.
 
The Shockers and Huskers went back and forth for the duration of singles play. Maruyama picked up the Huskers' first point on Court 3, defeating Ovil, 6-2, 6-1. Wiedenhorn briefly gave the Huskers the lead on Court 6 after beating Richey King, 6-4, 6-3.
 
Wichita State answered on Court 4 with Richards beating Johann, 6-4, 6-1. No. 109 Hietaranta picked up a ranked win on Court 1 over No. 97 Minarik, 6-3, 7-5, to give NU a 3-2 lead. Once again, Wichita State answered on Court 2 with Kvantaliani taking down Liquet, 7-6 (3), 6-2.
 
Tied at 3-3, the match came down to Court 5, where Alejandro Jacome beat Gleason, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2, to clinch the win for Wichita State.
 
Nebraska is back in action this coming Friday and Saturday when they take part in the Blue Gray National Tennis Classic in Montgomery, Alabama.

Tennis Match Results
Nebraska vs Wichita St.
2/19/2023 at Wichita, Kan.
(Sheldon Coleman TC)

Singles competition
1. #109 Roni Hietaranta (NEB) def. #97 Kristof Minarik (WSU) 6-3, 7-5
2. Misha Kvantaliani (WSU) def. Leo Linquet (NEB) 7-6 (7-3), 6-2
3. Shunya Maruyama (NEB) def. Orel Ovil (WSU) 6-2, 6-1
4. Alex Richards (WSU) def. Lars Johann (NEB) 6-4, 6-1
5. Alejandro Jacome (WSU) def. William Gleason (NEB) 3-6, 6-2, 6-2
6. Nic Wiedenhorn (NEB) def. Richey King (WSU) 6-4, 6-3

Doubles competition
1. Kristof Minarik/Alex Richards (WSU) def. Nic Wiedenhorn/Shunya Maruyama (NEB) 6-4
2. Orel Ovil/Misha Kvantaliani (WSU) def. William Gleason/Leo Linquet (NEB) 7-5
3. Roni Hietaranta/Lars Johann (NEB) def. Richey King/Luke Bracks (WSU) 6-4

Match Notes:
Nebraska 4-4
Wichita St. 6-5
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (3,6,4,1,2,5) Official: Simon Norman T-3:00