Huskers Host Purdue and Indiana

Nebraska Cornhuskers (3-1, 3-1 Big Ten) vs. Purdue Boilermakers (1-3, 1-3 Big Ten)

Friday, Feb. 26

1 p.m. CT

Dillon Tennis Center

Nebraska Cornhuskers (3-1, 3-1 Big Ten) vs. Indiana Hoosiers (1-3, 1-3 Big Ten)

Sunday, Feb. 28

10:30 a.m. CT

Dillon Tennis Center

The Nebraska women’s tennis team is back at home for week three of the 2021 season as they are set to host Purdue Friday at 1 p.m. and Indiana on Sunday at 10:30 a.m., at the Dillon Tennis Center. The Huskers are coming off back-to-back 4-3 wins on the road against Minnesota and Wisconsin. NU is currently 3-1 on the year and on a three-match win streak. 

Novak Continues to Impress at No. 1

Kristina Novak is on a five-match winning streak playing at the No. 1 spot. The sophomore from Slovenia is coming off a 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 win over Wisconsin’s Xinya Cai, her second win over Cai this season. Novak also defeated Minnesota’s Dalila Said in straight sets 6-3, 6-1. 

New Doubles Pairings in Week Two 

The Huskers debuted two new doubles pairs last weekend. Junior transfer Samantha Alicea teammed up with Kristina Novak to go 1-0 on the weekend. Hayley Haakenstad moved to the No. 3 spot after spending the first two matches playing at No. 1 with Novak. Haakenstad joined Chloe Kuckelman to defeat Wisconsin and Minnesota. Claire Reifeis and Isabel Adrover Gallego have been NU’s No. 2 team this season and hold a 5-1 record. 

Chloe Kuckelman Clinches Win Over Wisconsin
Sophomore Chloe Kuckelman clinched the win for Nebraska on Sunday with her 1-6, 6-2, 7-6(3) win over Chermaine Seah at the No. 5 spot. The Overland Park, Kan., native is 5-1 on the year in singles play including a three-set victory over Northwestern’s Caroline Pozo. 

Scouting Purdue

The Boilermakers enter Lincoln with a 1-3 record. Purdue opened the season with a loss to No. 8 Ohio State before earning a 4-3 win over Penn State. Last weekend, Purdue dropped matches against Michigan State and Michigan in West Lafayette. 

Senior Ena Babic has been Purdue’s No. 1 singles player this season. Babic defeated No. 107 Asuka Kawai of Illinois at the Purdue Invite in late January. Babic is currently 5-4 on the season in singles play and 6-1 in doubles action.  

Purdue is led by Head Coach Laura Glitz who coached the Boilermakers to four straight NCAA Tournament appearances from 2012-2015. 

Scouting Indiana
The Hooisers are 1-3 on the year and coming off a 4-3 win over Michigan State. Indiana’s losses have come at the hands of No. 8 Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State. 

Laura Masic has played primarily out of the No.1 singles spot for the Hoosiers. She is coming off back-to-back wins over Michigan and Michigan State. The Freshman is 3-2 in singles play and 3-4 in doubles action. 

Indiana is led by Head Coach Ramiro Azcui. Azcui joined the program in 1992 as associate head coach before being named head coach in 2017. During his time with the program, Indiana has claimed five Big Ten Championships and made 16 NCAA Tournament appearances.

Before traveling to Lincoln, The Hoosiers will stop in Iowa City to face off against the Hawkeyes on Friday afternoon.