Huskers Battle, Fall 5-2 at #25 Baylor

In its first dual against a ranked opponent, the Nebraska women’s tennis team (4-1) fell to No. 25 Baylor (3-1). The Huskers tallied two singles wins, but it wasn’t enough to best the Bears in the Friday afternoon road match. The Big Red will stay in Waco for a neutral match against Denver, Saturday, Feb. 1 at 10 a.m. CT.

The dual was kicked off by doubles at the Hurd Tennis Center. The first to finish was Court One, where No. 13 Kostenko/Tiglea defeated Lucy Loy and Ana Zamburek, 6-2. The Bears claimed the doubles point with Kubacha/Yu downing Reya Lee Coe and Maria Taranova in a nail-biter 6-4 finish on Court Two. The No. 3 doubles match between Emma Rizzetto and Tiziana Rossini and Berry/Sato was left unfinished at 5-5. 

Down one, singles action began against the Bears. Court Four was first to finish, as Kennedy Gibbs defeated Coe, 6-2, 6-2. Zamburek played a strong No. 1 singles match, putting NU on the board with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Cristina Tiglea. Following suit after the senior’s win, sophomore Rossini tied the match 2-2 by defeating Sierra Berry, 6-4, 6-4. Despite a close first set, Loy fell to Nanaka Sato on Court Six, 7-6(3), 6-2. Taranova had a hard fought battle at No. 2 singles against Liubov Kostenko, and fell 7-5, 6-4, leaving Baylor to clinch the dual. Rizzetto was the last match on, and couldn’t force a third set for Zuzanna Kubacha, dropping the match 6-3, 7-5.

With the loss, the Big Red fall to 4-1 on the season, and 1-19 against Baylor. Through five duals, NU’s record matches the 2023-24 opening stretch. Two Huskers claimed singles matches and points for the Huskers, Ana Zamburek and Tiziana Rossini. Zamburek is on a 4-0 run to start the season, and Rossini notched her 25th career singles win.

UP NEXT
The Huskers will stay in Waco and take on the Denver Pioneers on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 10 a.m. CST. The dual will be held at Hurd Tennis Center and streamed on Playsight. 

Nebraska 2, #25 Baylor 5
Doubles competition:
1. No. 13 Kostenko/Tiglea (BU) def. Loy/Zamburek (NEB) 6-2
2. Kubacha/Yu (BU) def. Coe/Taranova (NEB) 6-4
3. Rizzetto/Rossini (NEB) vs. Berry/Sato (BU) 5-5 UF

Singles competition:
1. Ana Zamburek (NEB) def. Cristina Tiglea (BU) 6-4, 6-1
2. Liubov Kostenko (BU) def. Maria Taranova (NEB) 7-5, 6-4
3. Zuzanna Kubacha (BU) def. Emma Rizzetto (NEB) 6-3, 7-5
4. Kennedy Gibbs (BU) def. Reya Lee Coe (NEB) 6-2, 6-2
5. Tiziana Rossini (NEB) def. Sierra Berry (BU) 6-4, 6-4
6. Nanaka Sato (BU) def. Lucy Loy (NEB) 7-6(3), 6-2