Huskers Battle Hard, Fall to No. 23 Northwestern

Evanston, Ill. – The No. 45 Nebraska men’s tennis team (12-8, 4-3 Big Ten) came up just short against No. 23 Northwestern (16-7, 5-1 Big Ten), losing 4-3 on Friday night.
 
Nebraska got off to a fast start in doubles action. Roni Hietaranta and Shunya Maruyama picked up the first doubles match in the No. 3 spot, defeating Trice Pickens and Natan Spear 6-3. Nebraska clinched the doubles point after William Gleason and Leo Linquet upset the No. 69 ranked duo of Simen Bratholm and Steven Forman 6-2 in the No. 1 spot.
 
The remaining match went unfinished, with Lars Johann and Calvin Mueller trailing Gleb Blekher and Ivan Yatsuk 3-5.
 
Northwestern leveled the score early in singles play, with Pickens defeating Johann 6-1, 6-3 in the No. 4 spot. The Wildcats continued to roll and jumped to a 3-1 lead, with Blekher defeating Mueller 7-6 (2), 6-2 in the No. 6 spot and No. 71 Forman defeating Hietaranta 6-2, 7-5 in the No. 1 spot.
 
Northwestern clinched the overall win in the No. 2 spot, as No. 111 Yatsuk defeated Linquet 5-7, 6-2, 6-4.
 
The teams played out the final remaining two matches, with Gleason picking up a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 win over Presley Thieneman in the No. 5 spot. Maruyama also added a win, defeating Bratholm 6-1, 1-6, 7-6 (4) in the No. 4 spot.
 
The Huskers now head to Urbana-Champaign to take on No. 26 Illinois at 12 p.m. CT on Sunday. 

Tennis Match Results

Nebraska vs Northwestern 4/14/2023

at Evanston, IL (Combe Tennis Center)

#23 Northwestern 4, #45 Nebraska 3

Singles competition

1. #71 Steven Forman (NU) def. Roni Hietaranta (NEB) 6-2, 7-5

2. #111 Ivan Yatsuk (NU) def. Leo Linquet (NEB) 5-7, 6-2, 6-4

3. Shunya Maruyama (NEB) def. Simen Bratholm (NU) 6-1, 1-6, 7-6 (7-4)

4. Trice Pickens (NU) def. Lars Johann (NEB) 6-1, 6-3

5. William Gleason (NEB) def. Presley Thieneman (NU) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3

6. Gleb Blekher (NU) def. Calvin Mueller (NEB) 7-6 (7-2), 6-2

Doubles competition

1. William Gleason/Leo Linquet (NEB) def. #69 Simen Bratholm/Steven Forman (NU) 6-2

2. #83 Gleb Blekher/Ivan Yatsuk (NU) vs. Lars Johann/Calvin Mueller (NEB) 5-3, unfinished

3. Roni Hietaranta/Shunya Maruyama (NEB) def. Trice Pickens/Natan Spear (NU) 6-3

Match Notes:

Nebraska 12-8; National ranking #45

Northwestern 16-7; National ranking #23

Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (4,6,1,2,5,3)