The Nebraska men’s tennis team captured FIVE wins on the first day of the ITA All-American Tournament in Tulsa, Okla., with Shunya Maruyama advancing into the Round of 64 on Sunday.
Shunya Maruyama won both of his matches on Saturday, first besting LSU’s Welsh Hotard in a three-set battle, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3. The Nagano, Japan native then kept the momentum going against Florida State’s John Bernard with a victory in consecutive sets, 6-3, 6-3. Dating back to last season, he has now won four of his last five singles matches.
Roni Hietaranta prevailed in the first round over Tennessee-Chattanooga’s Gabriel Castillo-Sanchez, 1-6, 6-4, 7-5. The Lappeenranta, Finland native fell in the second round against Florida State’s Maxwell Benson, 7-5, 6-1.
Nic Wiedenhorn started off the tournament strong with a win against Robbie Young of Wofford, 6-2, 6-2. In the second round, Wiedenhorn was outmatched by Rice’s Yasha Zemel in consecutive sets, 6-1, 6-4. He will team with Maruyama for the double’s portion of the bracket which begins on Monday.
Calvin Mueller lost his lone match of the day, falling to Pepperdine’s Eric Hadigian, 7-6 (3), 6-1. He fought in the tie-breaker, but ultimately fell just short and was eliminated from the main single’s draw.
Stay up to date with the action by following the Nebraska men’s tennis Twitter and Instagram accounts, @huskermtennis.
Roni Hietaranta
R256: Roni Hietaranta (NEB) def. Gabriel Castillo-Sanchez (UT-Chattanooga) 1-6, 6-4, 7-5
R128: Maxwell Benson (Presbyterian) def. Roni Hietaranta (NEB) 7-5, 6-1
Shunya Maruyama
R256: Shunya Maruyama (NEB) def. Welsh Hotard (LSU) 6-3, 1-6, 6-3
R128: Shunya Maruyama (NEB) def. John Bernard (FSU) 6-3, 6-3
Calvin Mueller
R256: Eric Hadigian (Pepperdine) def. Calvin Mueller (NEB) 7-6(3), 6-1
Nic Wiedenhorn
R256: Nic Wiedenhorn (NEB) def. Robbie Young (Wofford) 6-2, 6-2
R128: Yasha Zemel (Rice) def. Nic Wiedenhorn (NEB) 6-1, 6-4
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