Las Vegas, Nev. - Arkansas State rallied in the final two baker games, completing a 2-0 sweep of Nebraska in the winner's bracket final of the NCAA Championship in Las Vegas. 

The Red Wolves won the traditional match, 1008-987 before coming back to edge the Huskers, 1070-1067, in the five-game baker match to advance to Saturday's championship at 8 p.m. on ESPNU. 

Nebraska will now play Vanderbilt, a 2-0 winner over McKendree,  in an elimination match Saturday morning at 11 a.m. (Central). The winner of that match will meet the Red Wolves Saturday night. The NU-Vanderbilt match will be streamed on NCAA.com. 

Nebraska led for most of the traditional match before Arkansas State closed with a flourish in taking a 1008-987 victory.  Huskers held steady through the first eight frames before Arkansas State was able to fill four out of five possible marks, giving them a doubling advantage heading into the 10th frame. ASU put the game away as Emma Stull and Faith Welch had three strikes apiece in the 10th as all five bowlers marked in the frame. In all, the Red Wolves had 14 strikes in their final 20 frames.  NU tried to rally in the final frame, as all five bowlers opened the 10th with strikes, but could not complete the comeback.  Jillian Martin led the team with a dominant score of 226, including five straight strikes to end the match. Anna Callan followed close behind with 203, including only one open frame.   Crystal Elliott (197), Kendyl Hofmeister (191) and Kayla Verstraete (170) rounded out the Husker lineup. 

The Huskers rallied in the opening baker match for a 203-190 win. NU trailed 134-115 after an open frame in the seventh,, but roared back with five straight strikes and took advantage of an open frame by Arkansas State in the eighth frame. Crystal Elliott sealed game one with a double strike eight count in the 10th frame. 

Nebraska got off to a slow start in the second game, but a lineup change helped spark NU's 247-204 win. Alexis Buchert moved into the No. 2 spot and had strikes in both of her frames (second and seventh). The Huskers had open frames in two of the first three frames and trailed by 22 pins. The Huskers caught fire, closing the match with 10 straight strikes and took advantage of an Arkansas State open frame to extend its lead to 56 pins after the second game. 

In the third game, the Huskers were steady with 10 straight marks to post a 220-220 lead, as they extended their lead to 78 pins after three games. Buchart converted a clutch spare in the seventh, while three straight open frames by the Red Wolves gave NU some breathing room.

Arkansas State began its comeback with a 222-188 win in game four. ASU jumped out quickly with three straight strikes to open the match while Nebraska had a costly open frame in the first and could not catch up. The Huskers had nine strike marks after the first frame, but the Red Wolves had six strikes and did not have an open frame to cut NU's lead to 861-816.

In the finale, Arkansas State opened with three straight strikes and had strikes in eight of the first nine frames. NU, which had  open frames in the first and seventh, nearly rallied to send the match to a best-of-seven baker match play. Anna Callan and Jillian Martin recorded strikes in the eighth and ninth frames before Crystal Elliott's strike gave NU a chance to advance. Elliot nearly posted a second straight strike, but fell a pin shy before she converted the spare in the 254-207 loss. 

Huskers Battle Hard, Fall to No. 23 Northwestern

Evanston, Ill. – The No. 45 Nebraska men's tennis team (12-8, 4-3 Big Ten) came up just short against No. 23 Northwestern (16-7, 5-1 Big Ten), losing 4-3 on Friday night.
 
Nebraska got off to a fast start in doubles action. Roni Hietaranta and Shunya Maruyama picked up the first doubles match in the No. 3 spot, defeating Trice Pickens and Natan Spear 6-3. Nebraska clinched the doubles point after William Gleason and Leo Linquet upset the No. 69 ranked duo of Simen Bratholm and Steven Forman 6-2 in the No. 1 spot.
 
The remaining match went unfinished, with Lars Johann and Calvin Mueller trailing Gleb Blekher and Ivan Yatsuk 3-5.
 
Northwestern leveled the score early in singles play, with Pickens defeating Johann 6-1, 6-3 in the No. 4 spot. The Wildcats continued to roll and jumped to a 3-1 lead, with Blekher defeating Mueller 7-6 (2), 6-2 in the No. 6 spot and No. 71 Forman defeating Hietaranta 6-2, 7-5 in the No. 1 spot.
 
Northwestern clinched the overall win in the No. 2 spot, as No. 111 Yatsuk defeated Linquet 5-7, 6-2, 6-4.
 
The teams played out the final remaining two matches, with Gleason picking up a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 win over Presley Thieneman in the No. 5 spot. Maruyama also added a win, defeating Bratholm 6-1, 1-6, 7-6 (4) in the No. 4 spot.
 
The Huskers now head to Urbana-Champaign to take on No. 26 Illinois at 12 p.m. CT on Sunday. 

Tennis Match Results
Nebraska vs Northwestern 4/14/2023
at Evanston, IL (Combe Tennis Center)

#23 Northwestern 4, #45 Nebraska 3

Singles competition
1. #71 Steven Forman (NU) def. Roni Hietaranta (NEB) 6-2, 7-5
2. #111 Ivan Yatsuk (NU) def. Leo Linquet (NEB) 5-7, 6-2, 6-4
3. Shunya Maruyama (NEB) def. Simen Bratholm (NU) 6-1, 1-6, 7-6 (7-4)
4. Trice Pickens (NU) def. Lars Johann (NEB) 6-1, 6-3
5. William Gleason (NEB) def. Presley Thieneman (NU) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
6. Gleb Blekher (NU) def. Calvin Mueller (NEB) 7-6 (7-2), 6-2

Doubles competition
1. William Gleason/Leo Linquet (NEB) def. #69 Simen Bratholm/Steven Forman (NU) 6-2
2. #83 Gleb Blekher/Ivan Yatsuk (NU) vs. Lars Johann/Calvin Mueller (NEB) 5-3, unfinished
3. Roni Hietaranta/Shunya Maruyama (NEB) def. Trice Pickens/Natan Spear (NU) 6-3

Match Notes:
Nebraska 12-8; National ranking #45
Northwestern 16-7; National ranking #23
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (4,6,1,2,5,3)