Huskers Top Fighting Illini 5-2

Lincoln, Neb.- The Nebraska Cornhuskers (1-1) dominated the courts on Sunday, defeating the Illinois Fighting Illini (0-2) for the first time since 2017. After securing the doubles point, the Huskers managed 4 singles wins for an overall match score of 5-2.

Doubles

The Huskers took the doubles point with a win from duo Hayley Haakenstad and Kristina Novak who topped their opponents Emilee Duong and Sasha Belaya 6-0. Illinois’s Ashley Yeah and Kate Duong managed to defeat NU’s Chloe Kuckelman/Vivien Sandberg 6-3 but, Huskers Claire Reifeis and Isabel Adrover Gallego’s 6-2 victory over Asuka Kawai/Josie Frazier secured the doubles point for Nebraska.

Singles

In singles play, Chloe Kuckleman dropped her match against Kate Duong 0-6, 1-6. After a hard-fought battle on No. 2, Reifeis fell 3-6, 2-6 to

No. 107 Asuka Kawai, giving Illinois a 2-1 lead in the match. Kristina Novak prevailed at the No. 1 spot, winning her match against Emilee Duong 6-2, 6-4 to tie up the overall match score 2-2. 

Following a second set tie-breaker, Husker Maja Majoric came out on top against Ashley Yeah 6-1, 7-6(2)

In the final matches of the day, Isabel Adrover Gallego took down Sasha Belaya 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 to clinch the win, and NU a 4-2 lead. Hayley Haakenstad closed out the day with an exciting three-set victory against Josie Frazier 6-2, 6-7, 6-3 , to give the Huskers a 5-2 victory. 

Up Next

The Huskers head to Minnesota next Friday, February 19th and to Wisconsin Sunday, February 21st. 

Results

Doubles

1. Hayley Haakenstad/ Kristina Novak (NEB) def. Emilee Duong/Sasha Belaya 6-0 
2. Claire Reifeis/Isabel Adrover Gallego (NEB) def. Asuka Kawai/Josie Frazier 6-2
3. Ashley Yeah/Kate Duong def. Chloe Kuckelman/Vivien Sandberg (NEB) 6-3

Singles

1. Kristina Novak (NEB) def. Emilee Duong 6-2, 6-4
2. No. 107 Asuka Kawai def. Claire Reifeis (NEB) 3-6, 2-6
3. Isabel Adrover Gallego (NEB) def. Sasha Belaya 6-4, 5-7, 6-2
4. Maja Makoric (NEB) def. Ashley Yeah 6-1,7-6
5. Kate Duong def. Chloe Kuckelman (NEB) 0-6, 1-6
6. Hayley Haakenstad(NEB) def. Josie Fraizer 6-2, 6-7, 6-3

Notes
Nebraska: 1-1
Illinois: 0-2
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (5,2,1,4,3,6)