Hogs Cruise Past Nebraska, 4-0

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas men’s tennis team (6-2) earned its third straight win after a 4-0 victory over Nebraska (3-2) Friday night at Billingsley Tennis Center.

In doubles play, the Razorbacks took the early advantage with a win at the top spot, as Božo Barun and Marino Jakic defeated Johann/Shepp, 6-4. The Huskers responded with Linquet/Torres Espinosa obtaining a 6-3 victory against Benni Emesz/Lukas Palovic at the No. 3 position. The doubles point came down to court two as Connor Smillie and Jakub Vrba clinched the point for the Hogs after a 6-4 win over Mueller/Sysoev.

Arkansas started out strong in singles play, taking the first set on five courts. No. 85 Vrba cruised to his fifth singles victory of the season, besting Torres Espinosa 6-3, 6-3 at the No. 4 position. Barun quickly followed with a 6-4, 6-1 win against Mueller in the top spot, while Palovic clinched the sweep for the Razorbacks after a hard-fought 7-6 (2), 6-4 victory over Shepp on court two. With the win, Palovic now has a team-leading six singles victories this spring.

The remaining three matches all went to three sets as Jean-Baptiste Badon and Emesz both grabbed the first set at the No. 5 and 6 positions before dropping the second set. Jakic rebounded from a first set defeat to push his match to a third set on court three.

The Hogs return to Billingsley Tennis Center for a doubleheader on Sunday, February 2 against Wichita State at 11 a.m. and Lamar at 5 p.m.