2008 Woodie Awards
Huskers succumb to Bulldogs in close match
Jeff Straub
Issue date: 2/20/08 Section: Sports
The Nebraska men's tennis team closed out its weekend matches by losing to Drake, but the Cornhuskers say the misstep could help them in the long run, especially with the Big 12 Conference on the horizon.
Nebraska (4-3) came close to beating the No. 50 Bulldogs. After losing the doubles point and both matches at No. 1 and 2 in singles, the Huskers managed to fight back and almost pull off the upset they desperately wanted.
The Nebraska coaches wanted freshman Calin Paar to try his luck at No. 1 in singles against Drake's Dalibor Pavic, who is the No. 15-ranked singles player in the country. The two have same similar playing styles.
But Drake put Pavic at No. 2 against NU sophomore David Bendheim.
"We were hoping they would come out with their one and two guys switched, which we felt would've favored us," NU Coach Kerry McDermott said. "Then after you write the lineup, you can't change it. I told (NU assistant Coach) Joerg (Barthel), I'm like, 'That's not what we wanted.'"
The Huskers' hopes fell on two players, senior Mark Tate and sophomore Francois Van Impe, who looked like iron men trying to squeak out a close win for Nebraska.
McDermott said Tate really couldn't serve due to injury, but he squeezed out a win by wearing down his opponent, 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (3) at No. 6 singles. The Huskers needed both Tate and Van Impe to win their matches for an upset over the Bulldogs.
It all came down to Van Impe in his No. 5 singles match. As his entire team stood by the court and cheered him on, they soon realized he was down 5-2 in the third set, and it would be difficult to muster a win.
Van Impe battled back and was only down one game nearing the end of the third set. Both teams representing their school colors were anxious to await the outcome. The Bulldogs ultimately won that match and the meet, 4-3.
"I gave it all I had all three matches, and (today) I couldn't believe I was in the third set because I was already so tired coming into the match," Van Impe said. "I almost made it happen. I tried everything."
Barthel said he was impressed with the team's ability to play pro-active tennis by attacking when needed. He said losing the doubles point killed the team to start off the match. Barthel knew some of his guys were ill and injured, but he commended the whole team's effort in a tight match, especially Tate and Van Impe.
"They didn't want to let the team down," Barthel said. "That's how everyone is; that's our mentality. Being injured, I can't praise him (Tate) more for his effort and his tennis."
jeffstraub@dailynebraskan.com
Nebraska (4-3) came close to beating the No. 50 Bulldogs. After losing the doubles point and both matches at No. 1 and 2 in singles, the Huskers managed to fight back and almost pull off the upset they desperately wanted.
The Nebraska coaches wanted freshman Calin Paar to try his luck at No. 1 in singles against Drake's Dalibor Pavic, who is the No. 15-ranked singles player in the country. The two have same similar playing styles.
But Drake put Pavic at No. 2 against NU sophomore David Bendheim.
"We were hoping they would come out with their one and two guys switched, which we felt would've favored us," NU Coach Kerry McDermott said. "Then after you write the lineup, you can't change it. I told (NU assistant Coach) Joerg (Barthel), I'm like, 'That's not what we wanted.'"
The Huskers' hopes fell on two players, senior Mark Tate and sophomore Francois Van Impe, who looked like iron men trying to squeak out a close win for Nebraska.
McDermott said Tate really couldn't serve due to injury, but he squeezed out a win by wearing down his opponent, 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (3) at No. 6 singles. The Huskers needed both Tate and Van Impe to win their matches for an upset over the Bulldogs.
It all came down to Van Impe in his No. 5 singles match. As his entire team stood by the court and cheered him on, they soon realized he was down 5-2 in the third set, and it would be difficult to muster a win.
Van Impe battled back and was only down one game nearing the end of the third set. Both teams representing their school colors were anxious to await the outcome. The Bulldogs ultimately won that match and the meet, 4-3.
"I gave it all I had all three matches, and (today) I couldn't believe I was in the third set because I was already so tired coming into the match," Van Impe said. "I almost made it happen. I tried everything."
Barthel said he was impressed with the team's ability to play pro-active tennis by attacking when needed. He said losing the doubles point killed the team to start off the match. Barthel knew some of his guys were ill and injured, but he commended the whole team's effort in a tight match, especially Tate and Van Impe.
"They didn't want to let the team down," Barthel said. "That's how everyone is; that's our mentality. Being injured, I can't praise him (Tate) more for his effort and his tennis."
jeffstraub@dailynebraskan.com
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