Huskers Take Down Shockers In Thrilling Victory

Lincoln, Neb. – The Nebraska men’s tennis team (3-3, 0-0 Big Ten) won a thriller against the Wichita State Shockers (5-3, 0-0 AAC), winning 4-3 at the Sid and Hazel Dillon Tennis Center Sunday afternoon.

The match began with doubles play. Wichita State’s Alex Richards and Kristof Minarik got the win in the No. 2 spot over the Huskers’ Roni Hietaranta and Rudra Dixit, 6-1, to open play. Nebraska battled in the No. 1 spot to tie the doubles match at one a piece, as Victor Moreno Lozano and Nic Wiedenhorn took down Nicolas Acevedo and Luka Mrsic, 7-5. After being down 5-3 and in a 40-0 hole, Patrick Cacciatore and Shunya Maruyama willed themselves to victory over Jackie Lin and Ray Lo. The Huskers grabbed the final four set points to win the match, 7-5, and take the doubles point.

In singles action, Minarik defeated William Gleason in consecutive sets, 6-2, 6-2, to tie the match at one. In the No. 3 spot, Mrsic took down Wiedenhorn in two sets, 6-3, 6-2, to give the Shockers a 2-1 lead. Dario Huber fell just short in straight sets to Acevedo after forcing a first-set tiebreaker, which he narrowly lost 7-5. He ended up losing the second set 6-1 which in turn gave Wichita State a 3-1 lead.

Lozano built upon his doubles win as he bested the Shockers’ Alex Richards 6-3, 6-4 to bring the lead back within reach at 3-2. In a thriller, Maruyama prevailed to defeat Jackie Lin in the No. 6 spot to tie the match at three. He rallied back after dropping the second set to win the third and decisive set, 6-4. For the win, Hietaranta remained undefeated on the season at 6-0 as he won his match in the No. 4 spot against Orel Ovil. After being down 4-2 in the set, he battled back to take the final set 6-4 and give the Huskers a 4-3 victory over the Shockers.

Up next, the Huskers will continue their three-game home stand as they take on SMU next Sunday, Feb. 20 at 10 a.m and then Omaha at 5 p.m. at the Sid and Hazel Dillon Tennis Center.

Sunday, Feb. 13 Results

Nebraska 4, Wichita State 3

Singles Competition:

1. #119 Nicolas Acevedo (WSU) def. Dario Huber (NEB) 7-6(5), 6-1

2. Kristof Minarik (WSU) def. William Gleason (NEB) 6-2, 6-2

3. Luka Mrsic (WSU) def. Nic Wiedenhorn (NEB) 6-3, 6-2

4. Roni Hietaranta (NEB) def. Orel Ovil (WSU) 6-4, 2-6, 6-4

5. Victor Moreno Lozano (NEB) def. Alex Richards (WSU) 6-3, 6-4

6. Shunya Maruyama (NEB) def. Jackie Lin (WSU) 6-4, 3-6, 6-4

Doubles Competition:

1. Victor Moreno Lozano/Nic Wiedenhorn (NEB) def. Nicolas Acevedo/Luka Mrsic (WSU) 7-5

2. Alex Richards/Kristof Minarik (WSU) def. Rudra Dixit/Roni Hietaranta (NEB) 6-1

3. Patrick Cacciatore/Shunya Maruyama (NEB) def. Jackie Lin/Ray Lo (WSU) 7-5

Match Notes:

Wichita State (5-3)

Nebraska (3-3)

Order of Finish: Doubles (2, 1, 3); Singles (2, 3, 1, 5, 6, 4)