Huskers Defeat Penn State in Big Ten Tournament

Lincoln, Neb., —The Nebraska men’s tennis team defeated Penn State in an epic match in Thursday’s opening round of the Big Ten Tournament at the Dillon Tennis Center. 
 
The Huskers earned the doubles point and outlasted the Nittany Lions in singles play to earn the 4-2 win and a spot in tomorrow’s quarterfinals against Northwestern. 
 
Doubles
After dropping the match at No. 1, the Huskers battled from behind at No. 2 and No. 3 to earn the doubles point over the Nittany Lions. 
 
At No. 3, Patrick Cacciatore and William Gleason rallied to defeat Christos Antonpoulo and Alp Sentay, 7-5. Just moments later, Nic Wiedenhorn and Shunya Maruyama pushed past Miko Eala and Tim Ruetzel to earn the 7-5 win, giving Nebraska a 1-0 lead in the match.
 
Singles 
Maruyama got things started off for NU at No. 1 with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Second-Team All-Big Ten selection, Lakoseljac to put Nebraska up 2-0 in the match. 
 
Wiedenhorn added on to NU’s lead with a comeback win at No. 5. After dropping the first set 6-1, Wiedenhorn fought back to take the next two sets 6-2, 6-2.
 
The Nittany Lions answered with wins at No. 3 and No. 2. At No. 3, Morena Lozana fell to Eala 7-5, 6-4 and Gleason dropped a three-set match to Sengul 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 at No. 2, bringing the match score to 3-2.
 
The match concluded as Cacciatore secured the 4-2 Husker win with a dramatic 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (11-9) triumph over Charl Morgan at No. 6.

Up Next

Nebraska will face Northwestern tomorrow at 10 a.m. at the Dillon Tennis Center. Admission is free and open to the public. 

Results

Singles

1. Shunya Maruyama (NEB) def. Christian Lakoseljac (PENN) 6-3, 6-4

2. Bora Sengul (PENN) def. William Gleason (NEB) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3

3. Miko Eala (PENN) def. Victor Moreno Lozano (NEB) 7-5, 6-4

4. Albert Sprlak-Puk (NEB) vs. Tim Ruetzel (PENN) 7-5, 6-7 (4-7), 1-3, unfinished

5. Nic Wiedenhorn (NEB) def. Christos Antonopoulo (PENN) 1-6, 6-2, 6-2

6. Patrick Cacciatore (NEB) def. Charl Morgan (PENN) 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (11-9)

Doubles 

1. Christian Lakoseljac/Bora Sengul (PENN) def. Victor Moreno Lozano/Albert Sprlak-Puk (NEB) 6-2

2. Nic Wiedenhorn/Shunya Maruyama (NEB) def. Miko Eala/Tim Ruetzel (PENN) 7-5

3. Patrick Cacciatore/William Gleason (NEB) def. Christos Antonopoulo/Alp Sentay (PENN) 7-5

Match Notes:

Penn State 7-10

Nebraska 2-15

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