Lincoln, Neb. - The Nebraska women’s tennis team (3-1, 0-0 Big Ten) defeated the Illinois State Redbirds (3-1, 0-0 Missouri Valley), 6-1, at home on Feb. 4. The Sunday morning’s win was Nebraska’s 10th over ISU.
Nebraska had a strong start for doubles play on Court One, with Isabel Adrover Gallego and Raphaelle Lacasse taking an early 4-0 lead against Illinois State’s Tijana Zlatanovic and Lana Caculovic. In the No. 3 doubles slot, Lucy Loy and Maja Pietrowicz finished first, taking their set over Redbirds Nuria Sanz and Zoe Limparis, 6-2. The doubles win was Loy’s 50th career win. Adrover Gallego and Lacasse took their set, match, and the doubles point, with a deciding point to win 6-2. On Court Two, #32 Ana Zamburek and Anfisa Danilchenko had the 5-3 lead, but the match was left unfinished, with the NU doubles point already clinched.
Loy said, “I was surprised to hear about my 50th win, but it’s super exciting. I’ve gotten a lot of great opportunities getting to play at Nebraska, and it was a fun match today. I think after losing to Harvard, we went in with a lot of motivation to turn it around. I think on the doubles court and singles, we all put everything out there and got results. Getting 50 wins is super exciting that I got to do it with my team.”
The Big Red was ready for singles, taking on the Redbirds, as Lacasse, Danilchenko and Maria Taranova all took their first sets 6-2, and Loy and Zamburek took their sets 6-1. Adrover Gallego battled on Court One and forced set one to a tiebreak win, 7-6(6).
On Court Four, Zamburek won against Silvia Pomarolli 6-1, 6-1 to put Nebraska up to two points. On Court Six, Loy defeated Sofia Rodrigo in straight sets, 6-1, 6-4. For the match-winning point, Danilchenko took down ISU’s Nevera Kolarevic, 6-2, 6-2. Next to finish was Taranova in the No. 5 slot, taking her match 6-2, 6-4. On Court Six, Lacasse defeated Zlatanovic, 6-2, 6-3, bringing the Big Red No. 1 singles record to 4-0 in the spring season. Adrover Gallego rallied in her match on Court Two, down 2-4 in the second set, the senior persevered to the set tiebreak, but dropped the set, 6(3)-7. In the third set ten-point tiebreak, Adrover Gallego battled but ultimately lost to Caculovic, 10-8, giving the Redbirds their lone point.
Next up, the Big Red will host a doubleheader against North Dakota and Montana in Lincoln, Neb. at the Sid and Hazel Dillon Tennis Center. The Huskers take on the Fighting Hawks at 9 a.m. (CT) and the Grizzlies at 5 p.m. (CT) on Feb 10.
Tennis Match Results
Illinois State vs Nebraska
Feb 04, 2024 at Lincoln, Neb.
(Sid and Hazel Dillon Tennis Center)
Nebraska 6, Illinois State 1
Singles competition
1. Raphaelle Lacasse (NEB) def. Tijana Zlatanovic (ISU) 6-2, 6-3
2. Lana Caculovic (ISU) def. Isa Adrover Gallego (NEB) 6-7 (6-8), 7-6 (7-3), 1-0 (10-8)
3. Anfisa Danilchenko (NEB) def. Nevena Kolarevic (ISU) 6-2, 6-2
4. Ana Zamburek (NEB) def. Silvia Pomarolli (ISU) 6-1, 6-1
5. Maria Taranova (NEB) def. Nuria Sanz (ISU) 6-2, 6-4
6. Lucy Loy (NEB) def. Sofia Rodrigo (ISU) 6-1, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. Raphaelle Lacasse/Isa Adrover Gallego (NEB) def. Tijana Zlatanovic/Lana Caculovic (ISU) 6-2
2. Anfisa Danilchenko/Ana Zamburek (NEB) vs. Silvia Pomarolli/Nevena Kolarevic (ISU) 5-3, unfinished 3. Lucy Loy/Maja Pietrowicz (NEB) def. Nuria Sanz/Zoe Limparis (ISU) 6-2
Match Notes:
Illinois State 3-1
Nebraska 3-1
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (4,6,3,5,1,2)
A-48