Huskers Defeat Michigan State At Home 4-1

Lincoln, Neb. – Samantha Alicea secured the fourth and final point for the Huskers as the Nebraska women’s tennis team (13-9, 6-4 Big Ten) defeated the Michigan State Spartans (9-11, 1-8 Big Ten) 4-1 at the Dillon Tennis Center on Sunday afternoon. 
 
Competition started with doubles play. The No. 3 team of Ellie Kuckelman and Alicea started the Huskers off strong with a 6-2 win over MSU’s Nicole Stephens and Tia Mukherjee. At Court One, Kristina Novak and Maja Makoric recorded their 14th-straight win of the season as they defeated MSU’s Mary Lewis and Maja Pietrowicz, 6-2 and clinched the doubles point for the Huskers. Doubles play was stopped with Chloe Kuckelman and Isabel Adrover Gallego tied 4-4 with Ayshe Can and Charlotte Gisclon. 
 
In singles competition, Novak dominated in the first set and closed out the second set to claim the 6-3, 6- 3 victory over Lewis on Court One. At No. 5, Chloe extended the Husker lead as she defeated Stephens, 6-3, 6-3. On Court Two, Pietrowicz beat Makoric in consecutive sets, 6-3, 6-3, to give the Spartans their first point of the match. At No. 4, Alicea grabbed the overall match win for Nebraska with the straight-set 6-1, 7-6 (5) win over Lauren Lemonds. 
 
When the match was called, Ellie led 6-3, 5-4 at No. 6 and Adrover Gallego had forced a third set at No. 3. 
 
Up next, the Huskers will host Iowa on Senior Day on Saturday, April 23 at 11 a.m. CT. 
 
Tennis Match Results
Michigan State vs Nebraska
Apr 17, 2022 at Lincoln, Neb.
(Dillon Tennis Center)
 
#52 Nebraska 4, Michigan State 1
Singles competition
1. Kristina Novak (NEB) def. Mary Lewis (MSU) 6-3, 6-3
2. Maja Pietrowicz (MSU) def. Maja Makoric (NEB) 6-3, 6-3
3. Isabel Adrover Gallego (NEB) vs. Ayshe Can (MSU) 4-6, 6-4, 0-1, unfinished
4. Samantha Alicea (NEB) def. Lauren Lemonds (MSU) 6-1, 7-6 (7-5)
5. Chloe Kuckelman (NEB) def. Nicole Stephens (MSU) 6-3, 6-3
6. Ellie Kuckelman (NEB) vs. Charlotte Gisclon (MSU) 6-3, 5-4, unfinished
 
Doubles competition
1. Kristina Novak/Maja Makoric (NEB) def. Mary Lewis/Maja Pietrowicz (MSU) 6-2
2. Chloe Kuckelman/Isabel Adrover Gallego (NEB) vs. Ayshe Can/Charlotte Gisclon (MSU) 4-4, unfinished
3. Ellie Kuckelman/Samantha Alicea (NEB) def. Nicole Stephens/Tia Mukherjee (MSU) 6-2
 
Match Notes:
Michigan State 9-11, 1-8 Big Ten
Nebraska 13-9, 6-4 Big Ten; National ranking #52
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (1,5,2,4)