Huskers Overcome Spartans

Urbana, Ill. - Nebraska opened the Big Ten Tournament with a 4-3 win over Michigan State on Thursday at the Atkins Tennis Center.

The win moved the Huskers into a quarterfinal match with No. 12 Ohio State on Friday.

Nebraska got off to a strong start by claiming the doubles point with dominant wins at the No. 1 and No. 2 positions. NU's top team of Dusty Boyer and Bradford Zitsch cruised to an 8-3 victory over MSU's Harry Jadun and Jasper Koenen. At No. 2, Linus Erhart and Scott Elsass notched an even more decisive 8-1 win over the Spartans' Gijs Linders and Mac Roy.

Trailing 1-0, the Spartans rallied to win three of the first four decisions in singles play to pull in front of the Huskers 3-2 with two matches still up for grabs.

Andrew Dzulynsky battled to a 7-6 (7-2), 6-3 win at No. 4 singles over MSU's Roy, before Marc Herrmann tied the match at 3-3 with a hard-fought 2-6, 6-1, 6-3 victory over Jadun at the No. 3 singles position.

Boyer then secured the team victory for the Big Red with an epic 7-6 (7-5), 5-7, 7-5 win over MSU's Linders. The two All-Big Ten competitors fought tooth and nail down to the final point, before Boyer prevailed and punched Nebraska's ticket to the second round.

Nebraska 4, Michigan State 3
April 23, 2015 at Urbana, Ill. (Atkins Tennis Center)

Singles Competition
1. No. 111 Dusty Boyer (NEB) def. Gijs Linders (MSU) 7-6 (7-5) 5-7, 7-5
2. Brett Forman (MSU) def. Linus Erhart (NEB) 6-3, 6-2
3. Marc Hermann (NEB) def. Harry Jadun (MSU) 2-6, 6-1, 6-3
4. Andrew Dzulynsky (NEB) def. Mac Roy (MSU) 7-6 (7-2), 6-3
5. Jasper Koenen (MSU) def. Chris Hobgarski (NEB) 6-3, 6-2
6. Michael Dube (MSU) def. Bradford Zitsch (NEB) 6-4, 6-2

Doubles Competition
1. Dusty Boyer/Bradford Zitsch (NEB) def. Harry Jadun/Jasper Koenen (MSU) 8-3
2. Linus Erhart/Scott Elsass (NEB) def. Gijs Linders/Mac Roy (MSU) 8-1
3. Doug Zade/Brett Forman (MSU) vs. Marc Herrmann/Chris Hobgarski