Down to third-set tie breakers on three courts, the No. 41 Nebraska men’s tennis team fought hard in a tight senior day match against the #21 UCLA Bruins. The Huskers (15-8, 8-5 Big Ten) fell 4-1 in the Sunday afternoon dual, earning their lone point with a ranked upset from Anton Shepp.
The day started with seniors Shepp, Roni Hietaranta, Calvin Mueller, Lars Johann and Henry Bilicic being honored in their final regular season match as Huskers. The Big Red put up a close fight against the Bruins (13-8, 6-5 Big Ten), and will continue their season at the Big Ten tournament.
The battle between the Huskers and the Bruins opened with UCLA taking the doubles point. On Court Three, Emon van Loben Sels/Gianluca Ballotta took down the Huskers’ duo Colson Wells/Nikolay Sysoev 6-3. Following, No. 2 doubles Aadarsh Tripathi/Spencer Johnson won the doubles point 6-3 over Anton Shepp/Henry Bilicic. Court 3 went unfinished between Calvin Mueller and Lars Johann from NU and Giacomo Revelli and Alexander Hoogmartens from UCLA.
Down after doubles play, three Huskers took their first sets. Court Four was the first court to finish with Hoogmartens taking down Johann in the only straight sets of the day, 6-4, 6-4. Court One finished next with #63 Mueller dropping his match 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 to #23 Quan. Shepp got the Big Red on the board, completing a ranked comeback upset victory, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, over #86 van Loben Sels.
With the Bruins leading 3-1, the dual remained up for grabs with the three final singles matches going to extra games. To seal the match for UCLA, Kaylan Bigun defeated Nikolay Sysoev on Court Three, 6(5)-7, 6-1, 7-6(6). The other courts were abandoned, as Hietaranta and #28 Spencer Johnson battled on Court Five. The Husker was coming back from a saved match point but was trailing 0-4 in the 6-6 tie break. Linquet’s match was also left unfinished at No. 6 singles, where he led 6-3, 4-6, 6-5.
UCLA rallied for its 4-1 victory, to finish the regular season 13-8 (6-5 Big Ten), taking the first matchup between programs.
Huskers’ doubles duo Johann and Mueller finished the regular season with a perfect 5-0 record. Shepp’s victory at No. 2 singles notched his 15th for his senior season, and his second ranked win on the year.
UP NEXT
The Huskers head to Columbus, Ohio, for the Big Ten Tournament. Play begins on Thursday, April 24, and will conclude with the championship match on Sunday, April 27.
#21 UCLA 4, #41 Nebraska 1
Doubles competition:
1. Calvin Mueller/Lars Johann (NEB) vs. Giacomo Revelli/Alexander Hoogmartens (UCLA) 5-5 UF
2. Aadarsh Tripathi/Spencer Johnson (UCLA) def. Anton Shepp/Henry Bilicic (NEB) 6-3
3. Emon van Loben Sels/Gianluca Ballotta (UCLA) def. Colson Wells/Nikolay Sysoev (NEB) 6-3
Singles competition:
1. #23 Rudy Quan (UCLA) def. #63 Calvin Mueller (NEB) 6-3, 3-6, 1-6
2. Anton Shepp (NEB) def. #86 Emon van Loben Sels 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
3. Kaylan Bigun (UCLA) def. Nikolay Sysoev (NEB) 7-6, 1-6, 6-7
4. Alexander Hoogmartens (UCLA) def. Lars Johann (NEB) 4-6, 4-6
5. Roni Hietaranta (NEB) vs. #28 Spencer Johnson (UCLA) 3-6, 6-4, 6-6(4) UF
6. Leo Linquet (NEB) vs. #110 Aadarsh Tripathi (UCLA) 6-3, 4-6, 5-5 UF
Huskers.com
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