Huskers Fall 4-1 in First Round to #19 Baylor

College Station, Texas - Leo Linquet delivered a dominant singles victory Saturday morning, but the #41 Nebraska men’s tennis team fell 4-1 to #19 Baylor in the NCAA first round match. The Huskers (15-10, 8-5 Big Ten) conclude their season after a historic run to the program’s third-ever tournament appearance.

Led by second-year head coach Peter Kobelt and five senior student-athletes, the 2024-25 season reached new heights for Nebraska men’s tennis. The Big Red garnered the most conference wins ever, and posted two top-30 upsets in Lincoln. After earning its first bid in 14 years, the Huskers were slated for a rematch from their early February match against now top-20 Baylor. The Bears avenged losses previously dealt by Calvin Mueller and Lars Johann on their way to the first round win. With the loss, NU continues to seek its first NCAA tournament victory, and BU now leads the all-time history 28-3.

The NCAA first round match began with doubles at the Mitchell Tennis Center. Court Three finished first, where Bears duo Zsombor Velcz/Alexandru Chirita defeated Nikolay Sysoev and Colson Wells, 6-2. At No. 2 doubles, Anton Shepp and Henry Bilicic kept it close, but BU’s #64 Devin Badenhorst/Luc Koenig grabbed breakpoint at 4-4. The Bears took the next two games to claim the match and doubles point. Court One was left unfinished, where Mueller and Johann trailed 4-5 against #27 Oskar Brostrom Poulsen/Marko Miladinovic.

Starting singles, only Linquet took his first set. In a ranked battle at No. 2 singles, #69 Mueller fell to #112 Velcz 6-2, 6-1. Taking dominant sets of his own, Linquet closed on Court Six, taking down Bowden 6-1, 6-1, to get the Big Red on the board. Next to finish was No. 4 singles, where BU’s Chirita defeated Johann, 6-2, 7-5, to extend his win streak to four-straight.

With the Bears leading 3-1, the remaining courts battled to clinch and survive. Court Three decided the match, as Brostrom Poulsen claimed the 7-5, 6-4, win over Sysoev. With the 4-1 victory, the remaining courts were left unfinished. Roni Hietaranta had just evened the score at No. 5 singles, tied 3-6, 6-3, against Koenig. Court One was also abandoned, as Shepp battled #33 Badenhorst in a close 6(6)-7, 3-4 matchup.

The NCAA appearance was the last collegiate competition for five Huskers. Mueller concluded his career with 120 combined wins and two All-Big Ten selections. Hietaranta is also wrapping up his time at NU, alongside senior captains Shepp, Johann and Bilicic.

#19 Baylor 4, #41 Nebraska 1

Doubles competition:
1. Calvin Mueller/Lars Johann (NEB) vs. #27 Oskar Brostrom Poulsen/Marko Miladinovic (BU) 4-5 UF
2. #64 Devin Badenhorst/Luc Koenig (BU) def. Anton Shepp/Henry Bilicic (NEB) 6-4
3. Zsombor Velcz/Alexandru Chirita (BU) def. Nikolay Sysoev/Colson Wells (NEB) 6-2

Singles competition:
1. Anton Shepp (NEB) vs. #33 Devin Badenhorst (BU) 6(6)-7, 3-4 UF
2. #112 Zsombor Velcz (BU) def. #69 Calvin Mueller (NEB) 6-2, 6-1
3. Oskar Brostrom Poulsen (BU) def. Nikolay Sysoev (NEB) 7-5, 6-4
4. Alexandru Chirita (BU) def. Lars Johann (NEB) 6-2, 7-5
5. Roni Hietaranta (NEB) vs. Luc Koenig (BU) 3-6, 6-3, 0-0 UF
6. Leo Linquet (NEB) def. Louis Bowden (BU) 6-1, 6-1