Huskers Take On Northwestern, Illinois

NEBRASKA VS. No. 24 NORTHWESTERN     

FRIDAY, March 5 @ 5:30 p.m. CT

COMBE TENNIS CENTER

EVANSTON, ILLINOIS

LIVE TV:  nusports.com

LIVE STATS: nusports.com

NEBRASKA VS. No. 8 ILLINOIS

SUNDAY, March 7 @ 12:00 p.m. CT

ATKINS TENNIS CENTER

URBANA, ILLINOIS

LIVE TV: fightingillini.com

LIVE STATS: fightingillini.com

The Nebraska men’s tennis team (0-3, 0-3 Big Ten) will play Northwestern (3-3, 2-2 Big Ten) in Evanston, Ill. this Friday, March 5, at 5:30 p.m. CT and Illinois (6-2, 3-1 Big Ten) in Urbana, Ill. this Sunday, March 7, at 12 p.m. CT. Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, admission will not be allowed for the general public. 

Live streaming and scoring links for both matches will be available on nusports.com and fightingillini.com

Scouting Northwestern

• The Wildcats finished the 2019-2020 season with a 10-5 record overall and a 0-1 record in Big Ten play, with quality wins over Louisville, Kentucky and Vanderbilt.

• Northwestern is ranked No. 24 in the ITA coaches poll with its No. 1 singles player, Dominik Stary, ranked No. 58 and its No. 1 doubles team, Nick Brookes and Simen Bratholm, ranked No. 57. 

• The Wildcats, led by thirteen-year veteran head coach Avrid Swan, are coming into Friday’s matchup against Nebraska with a recent win over Big Ten foe, Wisconsin. 

Series History

• Northwestern holds a 0-8 all-time advantage over Nebraska, as the teams’ rivalry started when NU joined the Big Ten in 2011-2012. 

• The Wildcats have won all contests against the Huskers, including a 5-2 win in 2019. 

Scouting Illinois

• The Fighting Illini closed the 2020 spring season with an 5-6 record overall, a 2-0 record in Big Ten competition and wins over Notre Dame, No. 23 Northwestern and Purdue.

• Illinois has recorded a winning record every year while under head coach Brad Dancer, who is entering his seventh season.

• Four Illini players were ranked in the preseason ITA coaches poll with Alex Brown at No. 15, Aleks Kovacevic at No. 35, Siphos Monsti at No. 82 and Zeke Clark at No. 112.

Series History

• Illinois leads the all-time series 0-8, with the first matchup against the Fighting Illini resulting in a 1-6 loss in the 2011-2012 season.

 • IU has won all the matches against the Huskers, including a 0-7 win in 2019.

Wiedenhorn and Maruyama Hold Steady 

• Freshman Nic Wiedenhorn and sophomore Shunya Maruyama scored Nebraska’s two overall points against Iowa, both in commanding fashion. 

• In the No. 5 position, Wiedenhorn matched up against Iowa’s Jason Kerst, winning in straight sets 6-3, 7-6 (4).

• In the final spot, Maruyama defeated Iowa’s Peter Alam for his third victory of the season, giving him the most wins on the team.

Perez Makes Big Ten Debut

• Brandon Perez, a native of Caracas, Venezuela and transfer from Virginia Tech, began his Big Ten season with a matchup against Iowa’s Oliver Okonkwo in the No. 2 position. 

• Perez is now 1-3 overall and 0-1 in Big Ten play. He will look for his first Big Ten win when playing the Wildcats and Fighting Illini this weekend.