New Doubles Pairs Give NU Victory over Oklahoma

Lincoln--The University of Nebraska women's tennis team rallied from a 4-2 deficit heading into doubles play to upset No. 57 Oklahoma, 5-4, Sunday at the Woods Tennis Center.

After dropping a 4-2 lead Saturday going into doubles, the Huskers found themselves down 4-2 needing all three doubles points to pick up the team victory. Nebraska Head Coach Scott Jacobson's move to shuffle the playing combinations for the first time this season proved to be successful.

"It seemed that the chemistry yesterday in doubles just wasn't there," Jacobson said. "We just felt that we needed to mix it up today and it seemed to work. Our kids played very hard today, this is by far the best win of the year for us, especially coming off yesterday's tough loss."

At No. 1, juniors Sandra Noetzel and Gina Pelazini teamed up to play together for the first time this year and defeated Raluca Gheorghe and Danielle Knipp, 8-4. The duo of freshman Katarina Balan and sophomore Danica Hardy moved up from No. 3 doubles to No. 2 and came away with a 8-5 victory over Mracnova and Kristen Guilford. At No. 3, freshman Amy Frisch and sophomore Ndali Ijomah teamed up to defeat Angela Stroup and Jennie Hamilton, 8-4.

In singles, Noetzel won her 12th consecutive match at No. 1 singles, beating Gheorghe, 6-4, 7-5. With the victory, Noetzel moved into a tie at for second with now NU assistant coach Lisa Hart on the all-time singles win list with 74, one behind the record of 75 held by Iidiko Guba. In other singles play, Balan picked up a win over No. 99 Mracnova, 7-6 (7-2), 6-3, at No. 2 singles.

NU will return to action next Thursday, April 15, when they play host to the Iowa State Cyclones at 1 p.m. The match is scheduled to be played at the Cather-Pound Tennis Courts if weather permits.

Nebraska (15-6, 3-5) 5
Oklahoma (12-7, 5-2)........4

Singles
1. Sandra Noetzel (NU) def. Raluca Gheorghe (OU)......6-4, 7-5
2. Katarina Balan (NU) def. Viviana Mracnova (OU).......7-6(7-2), 6-3
3. Danielle Knipp (OU) def. Ndali Ijomah (NU)..............4-6, 6-2, 6-2
4. Kristen Guilford (OU) def. Gina Pelazini (NU)............6-2, 6-2
5. Jennie Hamilton (OU) def. Danica Hardy (NU)...........6-1, 6-4
6. Angela Stroup (OU) def. Amy Frisch (NU)................7-6(7-6), 6-2

Doubles
1. Noetzel/Pelazini (NU) def. Gheorghe/Knipp (OU).............8-4
2. Balan/Hardy (NU) def. Guilford/Mracnova (OU)................8-5
3. Frisch/Ijomah (NU) def. Stroup/Hamilton (OU).................8-4