Huskers Push Past Wyoming, Illinois State

Lincoln, Neb., — The Nebraska women’s tennis team pushed past Wyoming and Illinois State Saturday at the Dillon Tennis Center, improving to 11-4 on the year. Nebraska kicked off the day with a 6-1 victory over Wyoming, followed by a convincing 4-0 win over Illinois State. The Huskers remain undefeated at home with a 9-0 record. 

Wyoming

Chloe and Ellie Kuckelman came up big at the No. 2 spot, earning a 6-2 win. After dropping the match at No.1, Jessica Aragon and Hayley Haakenstad held of Wyoming 6-4 at the No. 3 spot to earn the doubles point for Nebraska. 

 

Isabel Adrover Gallego got things started for NU with a 6-2, 6-0 win at No. 2 over Oleksandra Balaba. Haakenstead followed with a 6-0, 6-4 triumph at No. 5, putting the Huskers up 3-0 over Wyoming.

 

Anna Baranovski fell to Mihaela Kaftanova at No. 6, 6-3, 6-4, to put Wyoming on the board.

 

Kristina Novak fought off an 0-deficit in the second set to clinch the match for the Big Red. Novak defeated Maria Oreshkina a 7-6 (2), 6-4 at the No. 1 spot, giving Nebraska the team win.

 

The Huskers earned their final two wins from Chloe and Ellie Kuckelman at the No. 3 and No. 4 spots, respectively.

 

Illinois State

Following a three-hour break, Nebraska took to courts to face-off against 2019 NCAA qualifiers, the Illinois State Redbirds. 

 

Chloe and Ellie Kuckelman got things started yet again with a 6-1 win at the No. 2 spot. Adrover Gallego and Aragon slipped at No. 3, but Haakenstad and Novak fought off a 2-4 deficit to earn the 6-4 win at No. 1 doubles and put the Huskers up 1-0.

 

Following a forfeit by Illinois State at No. 6, the Huskers got up 2-0 in the match.

 

Haakenstad was the first to answer for Nebraska with a 6-2, win at the No.5 spot while Novak picked up a 6-0, 6-2 victory at No. 1 to clinch the match for Nebraska, 4-0.

 

Up next

The Huskers hit the road for a pair of Big Ten matchups against Indiana and Purdue. Nebraska heads to Bloomington, Ind., as they face the Hoosiers Saturday, March 14^that 10:30 a.m. On March 15, the Huskers will square off against the Boilermakers at 10 a.m. 

 

Wyoming Results 

Singles

1. Kristina Novak (NEB) def. Maria Oreshkina (WYO) 7-6(2), 6-4

2. Isabel Adrover Gallego (NEB) def. Oleksandra Balaba (WYO) 6-2, 6-0

3. Chloe Kuckelman (NEB) def. Ida Krause (WYO) 6-7(3), 6-2, 6-0

4. Ellie Kuckelman (NEB) def. Ana Fernandez (WYO) 6-2, 2-6, 6-2

5. Hayley Haakenstad (NEB) def. Ana Royo (WYO) 6-0, 6-4

6. Mihaela Kaftanova (WYO) def. Anna Baranovski (NEB) 6-3, 6-4

 

Doubles

1. Maria Oreshkina/Oleksandra Balaba (WYO) def. Isabel Adrover Gallego/Kristina Novak (NEB) 6-3

2. Chloe Kuckelman/Ellie Kuckelman (NEB) def. Ida Krause/Mihaela Kaftanova (WYO) 6-2

3. Hayley Haakenstad/Jessica Aragon (NEB) def. Ana Royo/Clara Mansart (WYO) 6-4

 

 

Illinois State Results 

 

Singles 

1. Kristina Novak (NEB) def. Tara Damnjanovic (ILST) 6-0, 6-2

2. Isabel Adrover Gallego (NEB) vs. Laura Fitzgerald (ILST) 6-4, 1-3, unfinished

3. Chloe Kuckelma (NEB) vs. Laura Arciniegas (ILST) 6-1, 3-1, unfinished 

4. Ellie Kuckelman (NEB) vs. Elena Jankulovska (ILST) 6-1, 3-2, unfinished 

5. Hayley Haakendstead (NEB) def. Ivon Mihaleva (ILST) 6-2, 6-0

6. Anna Baranovski (NEB) def. No Player (ILST), by forfeit

 

Doubles

1. Kristina Novak/Hayley Haakenstad (NEB) def. Tara Damnjanovic/Natalia Bravo (ILST) 6-4

2. Chloe Kuckelman/Ellie Kuckleman (NEB) def. Laura Fitzgerald/Elena Jankulovska (ILST) 6-1

3. Laura Arciniegas/Ivon Mihaleva (ILST) def. sabel Adrover Gallego/Jessica Aragon (NEB) 6-2