Nebraska Edged by K-State, 4-3

Manhattan, Kan. – The Nebraska women’s tennis team fell just short to Kansas State on Wednesday afternoon at the Mike Goss Tennis Stadium in Manhattan, Kan. The Huskers suffered a loss in the final match of the day, falling to the Wildcats, 4-3. 
 
The Huskers drop to 9-4 (1-0 Big Ten) while the Wildcats improve to 8-4 (0-0 Big 12). Nebraska will return home to close out non-conference play this weekend when it hosts Wyoming (11 AM) and Illinois State (4:30 PM) on Saturday.
 
NU started the day strong winning its ninth doubles point of the season. Claire Reifeis and Isabel Adrover Gallego won at No. 2, 6-4, while Chloe and Ellie Kuckelman teamed up to secure the point for the Huskers with a 6-4 win at No. 3. 
 
In singles competition, Reifeis fell at the No. 1 spot to Anna Turco 6-2, 6-0, breaking Reifeis’ four-match win streak. 
 
Kristina Novak bounced back after a loss against Wichita State last week to handle things at No. 3. The freshman earned a 6-4, 6-1 win playing her first match out of the No. 3 spot. 
 
Adrover Gallego fell in her first contest at the No. 2 position against Maria Linares 6-2, 6-4, while Jessica Aragon suffered a 6-1, 6-3 loss at No. 6 to give K-State a 3-2 advantage. 
 
Ellie Kuckelman struck big for the Huskers, evening the match at 3-3 with a 6-1, 6-2 triumph over Rossana Maffei at the No. 5 spot.
 
With the dual coming down to its final match on court 4, Chloe Kuckelman was unable to stop Karine-Marion Job as she fell 6-4, 3-6, 1-6.
 
Up Next
Nebraska is back at home this Saturday, March 7th to finish out its non-conference slate. The Huskers take on Wyoming and Illinois State at 11 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., respectively, at the Dillon Tennis Center. 
 
Admission is free and open to the public.
 
Results
Singles
1. Anna Turco (KSU) def. Claire Reifeis (NEB) 6-2, 6-0
2. Maria Linares (KSU) def. Isabel Adrover Gallego (NEB) 6-2, 6-4
3. Kristina Novak (NEB) def. Margot Decker (KSU) 6-4, 6-1
4. Karine-Marion Job (KSU) def. Chloe Kuckelman (NEB) 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 
5. Ellie Kuckelman (NEB) def. Rosanna Maffei (KSU) 6-1, 6-2
6. Ines Mesquita (KSU) def. Jessica Aragon (NEB) 6-1, 6-3
 
Doubles
1. Hayley Haakenstad/Kristina Novak (NEB) vs. Karine-Marion Job/Maria Linares (KSU) 5-5, unfinished
2. Isabel Adrover Gallego/Claire Reifeis (NEB) def. Margot Decker/Anna Turco (KSU) 6-2
3. Chloe Kuckelman/Ellie Kuckelman (NEB) def. Ioana Gheorghita/Ines Mesquita (KSU) 6-4
 
Notes
Nebraska 9-4
K-State 8-4
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (1,3,2,6,5,4) T-2:40