Huskers Topple #26 Trojans, 4-2

Claiming the doubles point and three straight-set singles wins, the #41 Nebraska men’s tennis team came out victorious on Friday night, taking down #26 USC 4-2 in Lincoln. The Huskers notched their second ranked upset and third-straight conference win for the season to improve to 15-7 (8-4 Big Ten).

The Big Red kicked off doubles competition in Lincoln, and No. 1 doubles duo Calvin Mueller and Lars Johann claimed the first win. Mueller/Johann improved to 5-0 this season with their 6-2 victory over Tristan Bradley and Peter Maak. Anton Shepp and Henry Bilicic locked in the doubles point for NU with a 6-4 win against Morazzi/Trouve. No. 3 doubles was abandoned, as Colson Wells and Nikolay Sysoev led 6-5.

Up 1-0 to start singles competition, three Huskers took their first sets. Shepp led the race to win the first point for NU on Court Two, 6-0, 6-2, facing Nathan Trouve. From Court One, Big Ten Player of the Week #17 Maak defeated #63 Mueller putting the Trojans on the board. USC tied the match at 2-2 with a No. 3 singles win, as Karl Lee defeated Sysoev, 6-4, 6-3.

Fighting back for the Big Red, Johann took down Matteo Movazzi in straight sets at No. 4 singles, winning 6-3, 7-5. To clinch the match, Joan Torres Espinosa claimed Court Six, taking down Niels Hoffman 7-6(3), 6-3. The sophomore’s victory pushed his Big Ten singles record to 4-0, as well as notched his 40th career singles win.

After the upset victory, the Huskers are seeking their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2011. The Big Red claimed the first matchup between programs, and the Trojans fell to 13-9 (7-5 Big Ten) on their season. NU notched its eighth conference win, extending the team record for most league victories in a season.

UP NEXT
The Huskers will face the No. 21 UCLA Bruins on Sunday, April 20 at 12 p.m. (CT) at the Sid and Hazel Dillon Tennis Center. The Senior Day match will honor senior Huskers at 11:35 a.m. (CT), and parking and admission are free. 

#41 Nebraska 4, #26 USC 2

Doubles competition:

1. Calvin Mueller/Lars Johann (NEB) def. Tristan Bradley/Peter Makk (USC) 6-2
2. Anton Shepp/Henry Bilicic (NEB) def. Matteo Morazzi/Nathan Trouve (USC) 6-4
3. Colson Wells/Nikolay Sysoev (NEB) vs. Connor Church/Karl Lee (USC) 6-5 UF

Singles competition:

1. #17 Peter Makk (USC) def. #63 Calvin Mueller (NEB) 6-1, 6-4
   2. Anton Shepp (NEB) def. Nathan Trouve (USC) 6-0, 6-2
   3. Karl Lee (USC) def. Nikolay Sysoev (NEB) 6-4, 6-3
   4. Lars Johann (NEB) def. Matteo Morazzi (USC) 6-3, 7-5
   5. Roni Hietaranta (NEB) vs. Connor Church (USC) 3-6, 6-3, 0-0 UF
   6. Joan Torres Espinosa (NEB) def. Niels Hoffman (USC) 7-6(3), 6-3