The Nebraska men’s tennis team (5-2, 0-0 Big Ten) is set to host Arkansas (4-2, 0-0 SEC) and Gonzaga (2-0, 0-0 WCC) this weekend, Feb. 10 and 11. Both matches will take place at the Sid and Hazel Dillon Tennis Center, as the Huskers take on the Razorbacks on Saturday at 1 p.m. (CT) and the Bulldogs on Sunday at 11 a.m. (CT). Live stats and video will be available on Huskers.com, as well as live updates and content posted on X/Twitter at @HuskerMTennis.
Scouting Arkansas (4-2, 0-0 SEC)/Series History:
- The Razorbacks have gone 4-2 to start the 2024 season, with losses to MTSU and No. 25 Memphis.
- UA ended the 2022-23 season ranked No. 75, and senior Melvin Manuel was recently ranked No. 107 by ITA.
- Head Coach Jay Udwadia is in his second season with the Razorbacks and his 19th as a collegiate coach. As head coach at OSU, the team reached as high as No. 4 in the national rankings.
- Series History: 0-5 UA; Since the team’s first matchup in 1986, NU has gone 0-5 against Arkansas.
Scouting Gonzaga (2-0, 0-0 WCC)/Series History:
- The Bulldogs have gone 2-0 to start the 2024 and will be taking on Omaha on Feb. 10 prior to competing in Lincoln.
- GU ended the 2022-23 season ranked No. 69 by ITA.
- Head Coach D.J. Gurule is in his third season with the men’s tennis team, after coaching the women’s team for 17 years.
- Series History: 0-0; The Feb. 11 matchup will be the first between the Huskers and Bulldogs.
Junior Anton Shepp was recently ranked by ITA, at No. 113 with his 8-3 record and upset win over Alabama’s #51 Enzo Aguiard. The last Husker to be nationally ranked in singles was Roni Hietaranta, reaching No. 75 in the 2022-23 season. The Huskers also started the spring season with two-straight Big Ten honors. Shepp was named Big Ten Player of the Week on Jan. 17 and Calvin Mueller on Jan. 24. Both Shepp and Mueller were recognized for their perfect 4-0 weeks and straight-set victories.
NU has a 5-2 record so far on the 2023-24 season, the best start for the team since 2018. The Big Red are coming off a tough 0-7 loss against Baylor, where four Huskers took their first singles losses of the season.
Stay tuned to the Husker Men’s Tennis social media channels to keep up with match updates and content.
