Feb. 24, 2008

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By Brett Maikowski, Tennis Contact

LINCOLN, Neb. - Southeast Missouri State tennis split two matches between Nebraska-Kearney and Nebraska this weekend in Lincoln, Neb. The Redhawks (1-3) won their first match 5-2 on Saturday over Nebraska-Kearney but fell to Nebraska the following day, 7-0. The victory gives the Redhawks their first of the season.

In singles action against UNK, No. 1 senior Bryce Kristal won her second-straight match against Katie-Mar Outhwaite by identical scores of 6-2. Her sister, Drew, also defeated her opponent, Marcelle Strydom, 6-3 and 6-1 in the No. 3 slot to earn her first win of the season. In No. 2 singles, the Redhawks didn't fare as well, as junior Julia Masotti fell to Kristen Messbarger 6-4, 6-2. Sophomore Alyce Kelly earned her first victory of the season with a 6-0, 6-4 win over McKenna Irwin. In a close match, sophomore Elise Nattier battled to the end to earn her first victory of the season as well in a match against Jenna Eichman that ended with a 7-6, 1-6, 10-8 finish. Freshman Taylor Orahood also had a close match before going down to Callie Erickson by identical scores of 6-4.

In doubles play, the Redhawks earned the point after winning two of three matches. The No. 1 team of Bryce and Drew Kristal defeated the Outhwaite/Messbarger tandem by a score of 8-4. Masotti and Kelly shut down their opponent, Irwin/Erickson, 8-1 in No. 2 play. Finally, in No. 3 doubles, Nattier and Orahood came up just short to Strydom and Eichman by a score of 8-7.

The 5-2 win over Nebraska-Kearney gave Southeast its first win, making their record 1-2 and it also gave the team some momentum heading into the next day against Nebraska. Unfortunately, it was not enough as Nebraska remained undefeated while shutting out Southeast 7-0.

In singles play, No. 1 Bryce Kristal was defeated by Imke Reimers by a score of 6-0, 6-3. In No. 2 and 3 singles, Julia Masotti and Drew Kristal were both defeated by identical scores of 6-1 to Jana Albers and Wiveca Swarting. No. 4 Alyce Kelly lost to Amber Chandronnait 6-1, 6-2. Rounding out the lineup, in the No. 5 and 6 slots, Elise Nattier and Taylor Orahood fell to Stephanie Evans and Marianne Cicmanec by identical scores of 6-0.

In doubles action, the No. 1 Kristal team and the No. 3 Nattier/Orahood team went down 8-1 against the Reimers/Albers team and the Chandronnait/Abby Buxton pair. Finally in the No. 2 slot, Masotti and Kelly won one more game than the other two teams as they came up short 8-2 to Swarting and Maria Ring.

The loss moves Southeast's overall record this season to 1-3. Nebraska-Kearney's loss evens them out as their record goes to 2-2. Nebraska remains undefeated as they are 9-0 on the season.

Southeast will play its first conference game on Saturday, March 1 as they compete against Austin Peay in Clarksville, Tenn. at 1 p.m.