Huskers Fall at No. 8 Northwestern

Evanston, Ill.,- The No. 46 Nebraska women’s tennis team fell to 6-3 in Big Ten play after dropping a hard-fought match against No. 8 Northwestern (11-2, 7-1 B1G). 

The Huskers got off to a hot start, winning the doubles point over the Wildcats. After Kristina Novak and Samantha Alicea slipped at No. 1, the Huskers won matches at No. 2 and No. 3 to go up 1-0 in the match.

Hayley Haakenstad and Chloe Kuckelman struck first for the Huskers with a 6-4 win over Hannah McColgan and Clarissa Hand at No. 3. Claire Reifeis and Isabel Adrover Gallego finished things off with a 6-2 triumph over Christina Hand and Maria Shusharina at the No. 2 spot. 

In singles action, Northwestern claimed the first two matches. Haakenstad fell at No. 6 to Christina Hand, 3-6, 1-6 and Novak dropped her match at No. 1 to Maria Shusharina, 4-6, 1-6. 

With the Wildcats up 2-1 in the match, Chloe Kuckelman answered for Nebraska. The sophomore tied up the match at 2-2 with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Hannah McColgan at No. 5.

At No. 3, Reifeis fell in a three-set battle to Clarissa Hand, 6-4, 0-6, 3-6; giving Northwestern a 3-2 advantage in the match. 

The Wildcats clinched the match with a win at No. 4. Maja Makoric fell to Northwestern’s Briana Crowley, 7-6, 0-6, 3-6. 

Adrover Gallego was in set three against No. 57 Julie Byrne at the conclusion of Friday’s match. Adrover dropped the first set before answering 6-2 in the second. Byrne led 3-2 in the third when the match ended. 

The Huskers will look to bounce back as they travel to Illinois for a matchup against the Fighting Illini on Sunday at 11 a.m.

Results 

Doubles

1. Julie Byrne/Briana Crowley (NWU) def. Kristina Novak/Samantha Alicea (NEB), 6-1

2. Claire Reifeis/Isabel Adrover Gallego (NEB) def. Christina Hand/Maria Shusharina (NWU), 6-2

3. Hayley Haakenstad/Chloe Kuckelman (NEB) def. Hannah McColgan/Clarissa Hand (NWU), 6-4

Singles

1. Maria Susharina (NWU) def. Kristina Novak (NEB) 6-4, 6-1

2. Isabel Adrover Gallego (NEB) vs. No. 57 Julie Byrne (NWU) 5-7, 6-2, 2-3

3. Clarissa Hand (NWU) def. Claire Reifeis (NEB) 6-4, 0-6, 6-3

4. Briana Crowley (NWU) def. Maja Makoric (NEB) 6-7, 6-0, 6-3

5. Chloe Kuckelman (NEB) def. Hannah McColgan (NWU) 6-4, 6-2

6. Christina Hand (NWU) def. Hayley Haakenstad (NEB) 6-3, 6-1

Notes

Order of Finish;

Doubles: 1,3,2

Singles: 6,1,5,3,4,2