The Nebraska men's tennis team continues its 2023-24 fall season in Stillwater, Okla., this week at the ITA Regional Championships, Oct. 18-22. Eight Huskers are set to compete in the tournament: Rudi Christiansen, Lars Johann, Leo Linquet, Shunya Maruyama, Calvin Mueller, Anton Shepp, Nikolay Sysoev and Nic Wiedenhorn.
Christiansen will enter the tournament coming off his second season with the Huskers. Winning his last four singles matches of the 2022-23 season, Christiansen is kicking off his senior season in Stillwater. He will be competing in both singles and doubles this week, playing doubles with Mueller.
ITA Regionals will be Johann’s second tournament of the season, after taking on ITA All-Americans earlier this month. Johann was a difference-maker for NU his freshman season, going 8-6 in singles and 7-5 in doubles. Johann will be competing in both singles and doubles in Stillwater, playing doubles with fellow sophomore Linquet. Johann has byes in the first rounds in singles and doubles.
Linquet has been a fall essential for the Huskers this season, Stillwater being his third tournament this year. At the season opener, Linquet found success in doubles, placing second in the Milwaukee Tennis Classic with Mueller. With 11 total matches under his belt for the season, Linquet will be competing in singles and doubles in Stillwater, partnered with Johann for doubles play. Linquet has byes in the first rounds in singles and doubles.
Maruyama led NU in their last fall tournament, reaching the Round of 64 in singles at the ITA All-American Championships. After a strong 2022-23 season and his start in Tulsa, Maruyama will take the court again both in singles and doubles this week for the Big Red. Maruyama will be partnered with Husker newcomer Sysoev for doubles. Maruyama has a first round bye in singles.
After a great doubles run with Linquet in Milwaukee, Mueller is competing in singles and doubles in Stillwater this week. The 2022-23 season was Mueller’s best collegiate season to date, with career highs in both singles wins (12) and doubles wins (14). Mueller will be taking on doubles play with Christiansen.
Shepp is entering the tournament after representing the Big Red for the first time earlier this month in Tulsa. Shepp transferred from UT-Arlington, where he helped lead the team to the 2023 NCAA Tournament and clinched the conference championship win during singles play. Shepp was also a first-team All-WAC in both doubles and singles. In Stillwater, Shepp will play doubles with Wiedenhorn, as well as singles, having first round byes in both draws.
Sysoev will be representing the Big Red for the first time in Stillwater, after transferring from New Mexico where he spent his freshman season. With the Lobos, Sysoev tallied seven singles wins and claimed a team conference championship. In Stillwater, Sysoev will be playing singles, as well as doubles with senior Maruyama.
Wiedenhorn is entering the tournament coming off his best season with the Big Red. In the spring, Wiedenhorn tallied an 8-4 singles record. Stillwater will be Wiedenhorn’s first fall tournament this season, where he will play singles as well as doubles with Shepp. Wiedenhorn has byes in the first rounds in singles and doubles.
ITA Regional Championship Draws can be found here.
Stay tuned to the ITA tournament website and Nebraska Men’s Tennis social channels to keep up with Regional Championship updates and content.
Doubles (Draw of 64)
Leo Linquet and Lars Johann (Round One bye)
Rudi Christiansen and Calvin Mueller (Round One at 5:30 p.m.)
Nic Wiedenhorn and Anton Shepp (Round One bye)
Nikolay Sysoev and Shunya Maruyama (Round One at 5:30 p.m.)
Singles (Draw of 128)
Lars Johann (Round One bye, Round Two at 1:30 p.m.)
Shunya Maruyama (Round One bye, Round Two at 1:30 p.m.)
Nikolay Sysoev (Round One at 10 a.m.)
Rudi Christiansen (Round One at 10:30 a.m.)
Calvin Mueller (Round One at 11:30 a.m.)
Anton Shepp (Round One bye, Round Two at 4 p.m.)
Leo Linquet (Round One bye, Round Two at 4:30 p.m.)
Nic Wiedenhorn (Round One bye, Round Two at 4:30 p.m.)