NU Finishes Strong at Drake Invite

Des Moines, Iowa – The Huskers capped off a stellar weekend at the Drake Invitational on Sunday by winning two doubles and three singles matches. 

Sophomore Chloe Kuckelman and junior Samantha Alicea both finished with undefeated 4-0 singles records. Kuckelman took Flight 1 when she defeated freshman Jillian Roa in the championship match 6-1, 6-4. Roa had an impressive opening weekend for the Huskers going 3-1 in singles play. Alicea, an Arizona State transfer in her second year as a Husker, topped Millie Haagensen of Drake 6-7 (7), 6-1, 11-9 to win Flight 2. 

Freshman Lucy Loy started her Husker career off strong as she went 3-1 in singles play. She completed the invite with a dominating straight-set win against Drake’s Darinka Stepan 6-1, 6-3. 

Sophomore Vivien Sandberg had to withdraw from play due to injury, but she did record a singles victory over UNO’s Lillian Tiemeyer 6-4, 6-1 to kick off the tournament on Friday. 

 

Alicea and Kuckelman continued their success as a doubles team this weekend by defeating the Creighton pair of Gabby O’Connor and Meredith Benson 8-2 on Sunday morning. The duo finished 2-1 on the weekend.

 

Sandberg and Roa went 1-1 on their first two matches of the invite before Loy took over for the injured Sandberg. Loy and Roa finished on a high note as they defeated Omaha’s Alexia Di Giulio and Rachel Osborn 8-2.

 

The Huskers are back on the road next weekend as they head to Wisconsin for the Milwaukee Tennis Classic from Sept. 18-20. 

Day Three Results

Singles (Flight 1)

Championship: Chloe Kuckelman (NEB) def. Jillian Roa (NEB) 6-1, 6-4

Singles (Flight 2)

Championship: Samantha Alicea (NEB) def. Millie Haagensen (DRAKE) 6-7 (7), 6-1, 11-9

Singles (3/4 Place Match-Up)

Lucy Loy (NEB) def. Darinka Stepan (DRAKE) 6-1, 6-3

Doubles 

Kuckelman/Alicea (NEB) def. Gabby O’Connor/Meredith Benson (CU) 8-2

Roa/Loy (NEB) def. Alexia Di Giulio/Rachel Osborn (UNO) 8-2

Weekend Records

Doubles

Samantha Alicea/Chloe Kuckelman: 2-1

Vivien Sandberg/Jillian Roa: 1-1

Lucy Loy/Jillian Roa: 1-0

Singles

Samantha Alicea: 4-0

Chloe Kuckelman: 4-0

Jillian Roa: 3-1

Lucy Loy: 3-1

Vivien Sandberg: 1-1