Five Huskers Advance in ITA Regionals

Fayetteville, Ark. – Five Huskers advanced into the Round of 32 to complete the first day of the ITA Regional Championships held at the Billingsley Tennis Center in Arkansas.

Rudi Christiansen, Lars Johann and Calvin Mueller each won their opening-round matchups in singles play by way of consecutive-set victories. With the first-round victory, all three players advanced into the round of 64 that subsequently took place later in the day.

Johann continued his winning ways in the second round, knocking off Tulsa’s Daniel Siddall, 6-3, 7-6 (5), earning him a spot in the main draw tomorrow. Mueller also wrapped up the day with a pair of victories, rallying from a first-set loss to take the next two and advance into the next round.

After receiving byes in the first round, Roni Hietaranta and Nic Wiedenhorn both gathered victories in three-set thrillers, advancing into tomorrow’s singles main draw. Hietaranta downed Oral Robert’s Ignacio Vinas, 6-3, 2-6, 6-3, while Wiedenhorn knocked off Drake’s Markus Bolin, 3-6, 6-4, 6-0.

Shunya Maruyama gathered his team-leading third victory to advance into the Round of 32, taking down Oral Robert’s Gustavo Pinho, 6-3, 6-2. The Nagani, Japan native now boasts a 3-1 record on the fall campaign after a pair of wins at the ITA All-American Tournament two weeks ago.

Christiansen fell just short in his Round of 64 matchup, losing to Alan Sau of Arkansas, 6-3, 7-6 (4). William Gleason dropped his lone match of the day to Oklahoma State’s Leighton Allen, 4-6, 7-5, 6-1.

Stay up to date with the action by following the Nebraska men’s tennis Twitter and Instagram accounts, @huskermtennis.

Rudi Christiansen:

R128: Rudi Christiansen (NEB) def. Alejandro Gandini (Creighton) 6-3, RET [inj]

R64: Alan Sau (Arkansas) def. Rudi Christiansen (NEB) 6-3, 7-6 (4)

William Gleason: 

R64: Leighton Allen (Oklahoma State) def. William Gleason (NEB) 4-6, 7-5, 6-1

Roni Hietaranta:

R64: Roni Hietaranta (NEB) def. Ignacio Vinas (Oral Roberts) 6-3, 2-6, 6-3

Lars Johann:

R128: Lars Johann (NEB) def. Daniel Green (UNO) 7-6 (6), 6-2

R64: Lars Johann (NEB) def. Daniel Siddall (Tulsa) 6-3, 7-6 (5)

Shunya Maruyama:

R64: Shunya Maruyama (NEB) def. Gustavo Pinho (Oral Roberts) 6-3, 6-2

Calvin Mueller:

R128: Calvin Mueller (NEB) def. Reid Jarvis (Drake) 6-4, 7-5

R64: Calvin Mueller (NEB) def. Adham Gaber (Tulsa) 0-6, 7-6 (5), 6-0

Nic Wiedenhorn:

R64: Nic Wiedenhorn (NEB) def. Markus Bolin (Drake) 3-6, 6-4, 6-0