Ann Arbor, Mich. - The #53 Nebraska men’s tennis team (10-7, 0-2 Big Ten) never backed down against the #43 Michigan (8-10, 2-0 Big Ten), in the Sunday afternoon match, fighting for its first conference win. However, the Wolverines persisted and claimed the 5-2 match victory, despite three-set thrillers and singles points from Calvin Mueller and Roni Hietaranta.
The Big Ten matchup started with doubles at the Varsity Tennis Center. Nikolay Sysoev and Leo Linquet partnered up for the second time to compete in the No. 3 doubles slot for the Huskers. Sysoev and Linquet took on Michigan’s Mert Oral and Bjorn Swenson, but were defeated, 3-6. On Court Two, Shunya Maruyama and Anton Shepp defeated Wolverines Alex Cairo and Will Cooksey, 6-4. The doubles point came down to Court One, where Calvin Mueller and Lars Johann faced nationally ranked duo #27 Jacob Bickersteth and Gavin Young. Mueller and Johann rallied, but dropped the set, 4-6, and Michigan secured the doubles point.
Singles were off to a tough start for the Big Red, with four Huskers dropping their first sets. Maruyama competed in the No. 3 slot, and was defeated by Swenson, 1-6, 4-6. Johann finished soon after Maruyama, falling to Cooksey on Court Four, 1-6, 5-7. With Michigan up 3-0 in the match, Mueller claimed a crucial win on Court Two for the Huskers. Mueller defeated #125 Jacob Bickersteth in straight sets, 6-4, 7-5. Sysoev competed in the No. 6 slot for the Big Red, against Cairo. Sysoev had a strong start, but Cairo came back and clinched the match with a persistent 4-6, 7-6(9), 6-1 win. Although the match was decided, Shepp and Hietaranta on Courts One and Five respectively played out their matches. Shepp faced nationally ranked #15 Gavin Young, and gave the top-20 Wolverine a run for his money. Young defeated Shepp in three sets, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3. Hietaranta was matched up against Nicholas Steiglehner, and after a tough first set, came out with a 1-6, 7-6(3), 6-3 win. The final match score was 5-2, Michigan.
Mueller’s win on Court Two was his second win over a ranked opponent this weekend, defeating #34 Ronald Hohmann at MSU on Friday, and #125 Jacob Bickersteth at Michigan on Sunday. Mueller’s wins improve his spring N0. 2 singles record to 6-1. With the team loss, the Huskers fall to 10-7 in the spring season, and 0-2 in conference play.
Up next, the Huskers return to Lincoln for their first home match in over a month. The Big Red will host Wisconsin and Illinois State in a double-header on Saturday, March 30. First serves are set for noon (CT) against the Badgers, and 6 p.m. (CT) against the Redbirds. Both matches will be held at the Sid and Hazel Dillon Tennis Center, where parking and admission are free. Live stats and video will be available on Huskers.com, as well as live updates and content posted on X/Twitter at @HuskerMTennis.
#43 Michigan 5, #53 Nebraska 2
Doubles competition:
1. #27 Jacob Bickersteth/Gavin Young (MICH) def. Calvin Mueller/Lars Johann (NEB), 6-4
2. Shunya Maruyama/Anton Shepp (NEB) def. Alex Cairo/Will Cooksey (MICH), 6-4
3. Mert Oral/Bjorn Swenson (MICH) def. Nikolay Sysoev/Leo Linquet (NEB), 6-3
Singles competition:
1. #15 Gavin Young (MICH) def. Anton Shepp (NEB), 7-5, 4-6, 6-3
2. Calvin Mueller (NEB) def. #125 Jacob Bickersteth (MICH), 6-4, 7-5
3. Bjorn Swenson (MICH) def. Shunya Maruyama (NEB) , 6-1, 6-4
4. Will Cooksey (MICH) def. Lars Johann (NEB), 6-1, 7-5
5. Roni Hietaranta (NEB) def. Nicholas Steiglehner (MICH), 1-6, 7-6(3), 6-3
6. Alex Cairo (MICH) def. Nikolay Sysoev (NEB), 4-6, 7-6(9), 6-1