Lozano Pushes Huskers Past No. 53 Fighting Illini

Lincoln, Neb. – The Nebraska men’s tennis team (6-13, 2-2 Big Ten) gathered its second conference win of the season against the Illinois Fighting Illini (9-12, 2-3 Big Ten), 4-2 at the Dillon Tennis Center on Friday night. 
 
Action started with doubles play as the No. 3 team of William Gleason and Calvin Mueller won the opening match against Illinois’ Alex Brown and Gabrielius Guzauskas, 6-1. In the No. 2 spot, the newly ranked duo of Shunya Maruyama and Dario Huber knocked off Siphosothando Montsi and Olivier Stuart, 6-3, to clinch the doubles point. 

On the No. 1 court, Victor Moreno Lozano and Nic Wiedenhorn’s match was called at 5-3 against Illinois’ Lucas Horve and Hunter Heck and the point was awarded to Nebraska.

 

In singles play, Heck beat Maruyama in consecutive sets, 6-4, 6-2, to give the Illini their first point of the match. Mueller then proceeded to upset No. 51 Stuart in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4, to secure his first singles since January 29 against Drake. Gleason fought back from a first-set deficit to take the match in the No. 6 spot, 6-4, 6-2. It was Gleason’s second-straight singles win and gave Nebraska a 3-1 advantage over Illinois.

The Fighting Illini got a point back after Nic Meister bested Roni Hietaranta, to cut the deficit to 3-2. However, Lozano clinched the match for the Huskers as he took down Brown in a three-set thriller, 1-6, 6-4, 7-5. Lozano was up 5-2 in the final set before Brown came back to even the score at 5. The Madrid, Spain native earned his third-straight conference victory and pushed Nebraska’s conference record to 2-2.

 

Up next, the Huskers host Northwestern on Sunday at Noon CT at the Dillon Tennis Center.

Nebraska 4, No. 53 Illinois 2

Singles Competition:

1. Dario Huber (NEB) vs. Siphosothando Montsi (ILL) 4-6, 7-6(4), 1-0, unfinished

2. #74 Hunter Heck (ILL) def. Shunya Maruyama (NEB) 6-4, 6-2

3. Calvin Mueller (NEB) def. #51 Olivier Stuart (ILL) 6-2, 6-4

4. Victor Moreno Lozano (NEB) def. Alex Brown (ILL) 1-6, 6-4, 7-5

5. Lucas Horve (ILL) def. Roni Hietaranta (NEB) 7-5, 6-4

6. William Gleason (NEB) def. Nic Meister (ILL) 6-4, 6-2

Doubles Competition:

1. Victor Moreno Lozano/Nic Wiedenhorn (NEB) vs. #57 Lucas Horve/Hunter Heck (ILL) 3-5, unfinished

2. #85 Shunya Maruyama/Dario Huber (NEB) def. #64 Siphosothando Montsi/Olivier Stuart (ILL) 6-3

3. William Gleason/Calvin Mueller (NEB) def. Alex Brown/Gabrielius Guzauskas (ILL) 6-1

Match Notes:

No. 53 Illinois (9-12)

Nebraska (6-13)

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