In its first of two road games this week, the Nebraska women's soccer team (1-3-2) fell 3-1 to Illinois (4-2-1) on Friday morning in Champaign. The game, originally scheduled for Thursday, was moved due to inclement weather. 
 
For the third time this season, Nebraska was first on the board. Dakota Chan slid one past the Illini in the ninth minute after connecting with Natalie Cooke on a give-and-go at the top of the box. The goal is her first of the season and third of her career. 
 
The Illini managed to tie the game in the 14th minute as Kendra Pasquale capitalized off mistouch by Nebraska. Illinois' Makena Silber added another in the 38th minute to give the Illini a 2-1 lead at the half.  
 
Illinois extended its advantage in the second half, scoring its final goal in the 49th minute. 
 
Sophomore goalkeeper Makinzie Short made a career-high six saves on 15 shots faced. She has now made 16 saves on the year for the Huskers.
 
Reagan Raabe and Kenzie Coons led the team with two shots apiece with one falling on goal. 

Overall, the Huskers took six shots with four landing on goal. The team had five corner kick opportunities and kept Illinois to two. 
 
The Huskers continue their Illinois road trip on Sunday, March 21 against Northwestern. The game kicks off at noon (CT) from Evanston and will be streamed on BTN+. 

Knapton, Haebig Earn All-America Awards

Greensboro, N.C. - Nebraska's Abigail Knapton captured first-team All-America honors on the three-meter springboard, while Autumn Haebig added her second All-America award in as many days with a ninth-place finish in the 200 freestyle at the 2021 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships at the Greensboro Aquatic Center on Friday night.

"This was a great day, with both our swimming and diving parts in full force," Nebraska Head Coach Pablo Morales. "This is huge for our program, and we are excited about the finale tomorrow."

Knapton, a fifth-year senior from Omaha, captured the fifth overall All-America award of her illustrious diving career at Nebraska and her fourth first-team honor by posting a 342.90 to take eighth in the finals. She advanced to the championship round with a 339.20 in Friday's prelims. It was Knapton's best career NCAA finish on the three-meter, well ahead of her 15th-place finish on the event in 2019, which earned her honorable-mention All-America accolades.

Knapton's performance earned Nebraska 11 team points, and sets her up for Saturday's platform competition. Already the most accomplished diver in Nebraska history, Knapton is a three-time first-team All-American on platform and is bidding to make more history as the first Husker diver or swimmer to earn four first-team All-America awards in the same event. She will also be taking aim at the first podium finish by a diver in an NCAA event in Nebraska history.

"Abi battled to earn a spot in the championship final on the three meter. She was great and finished eighth, but she made a serious run at a top-three finish," Morales said. "For her, this was a fantastic lead-in to her forte event tomorrow. Always the platform specialist, today just highlights how hard she has worked in all facets of her diving, adding All-America status in springboard to the status she has attained every year on platform."

While Knapton racked up big points for the Big Red in the diving well, Haebig continued to score for the Huskers in the pool. The senior from Grafton, Wis., won the consolation final in the 200 freestyle by tying her career best and her own Nebraska school record with a time of 144.39. Haebig, the 2021 Big Ten Conference champion in the event, qualified for the consolation final with the 15th-fastest time (145.74), before finding more speed in the evening session. 

"Autumn got things going this morning by making her second final of the meet," Morales said. "It got better from there with Autumn winning the consolation final heat from the outside lane. Autumn earning trips to the finals in both her events so far has helped put Nebraska swimming on the map at these NCAA Championships, especially by winning the consolation final in very exciting fashion."

Haebig's two top-16 finishes make her the first Husker swimmer to capture All-America honors in two individual events at the NCAA Championships since Elvira Fischer (5th, 200 Breast; 8th, 100 Breast) at the 2001 NCAA Championships.

Haebig's performance earned Nebraska eight team points, giving her 11 total team points after also earning honorable-mention All-America accolades with her 14th-place finish in the 500 free on Thursday.

Nebraska's other NCAA competitor on Friday was diver Sara Troyer. The junior from Goshen, Ind., finished 27th in the prelims on the three-meter board with a score of 281.30. 

"Sara completed a solid first showing at NCAAs with her 27th-place finish on three-meter," Morales said. "This undoubtedly lays the foundation for future success at the the championships."

Through 14 events at the NCAA Championships, the efforts of Knapton and Haebig have propelled Nebraska into 24th in the team standings with 22 points, as each of the senior All-Americans have earned 11 points.

The 22 points scored by Nebraska is already the most by the Huskers at the NCAA Championships since scoring 27 on their way to a 23rd-place team finish in 2001. With Haebig and Knapton both earning All-America honors, it also marks the first time since 2001 that the Big Red has had multiple swimming and diving All-Americans at the same championship.

In the final day of competition on Saturday, Haebig will return to the water to compete in the 100-yard freestyle prelims, before Knapton competes in the platform prelims. During the afternoon session, junior Audrey Coffey will compete in the 1,650 free. Finals in the 100 free and platform competition are set for Saturday's evening session.

NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships
March 17-20, 2021
Greensboro (N.C.) Aquatic Center


Team Standings (Through 14 Events)
1. Virginia - 344
2. NC State - 241
3. Texas - 224
4. California - 210
5. Ohio State - 177.5
6. Alabama - 155
7. Stanford - 140
8. Michigan - 127.5
9. Georgia - 115
T10. Kentucky - 114
T10. North Carolina - 114
12. Tennessee - 90
13. Louisville - 81
14. Missouri - 79
15. Florida - 74.5
T16. Texas A&M - 64
T16. Northwestern - 64
18. Indiana - 63
T19. USC - 42
T19. Miami - 42
21. Minnesota - 40
22. Wisconsin - 39
23. Virginia Tech - 28
24. Nebraska - 22
25. Arkansas - 21
26. Arizona - 17.5
27. Georgia Tech - 16
28. Purdue - 13
29. LSU - 9
T30. Houston - 6
T30. San Diego State - 6
T32. Notre Dame - 4
T32. Duke - 4
34. Akron - 3

Huskers Crush Golden Gophers 6-1

Lincoln, Neb.,--The No. 40 Nebraska women's tennis team improved to 8-3 after a dominant 6-1 victory over the Golden Gophers (3-7 Big Ten) on Friday night. The Huskers won the doubles point and five singles matches to claim its eighth win of the season. 

In doubles competition, the Huskers raced to victories at No. 1 and No. 2 to pick up the point. Kristina Novak and Maja Makoric defeated Rachel Hanford and Dalila Said, 6-3 at No. 1. At No. 2 Claire Reifeis and Isabel Adrover Gallego wrapped things up with a 6-2 win over Zeyneb Sarioglan and River Hart. 

At the conclusion of doubles play, Hayley Haakenstad and Chloe Kuckelman were tied 4-4 with Minnesota's Juliet Zhang and Ekin Ercetin at No. 3. 

In singles play, Novak struck first for the Huskers as she easily defeated Rachel Hanford 6-1, 6-1 at No. 1. The Golden Gophers responded with a win at No. 2 when Ekin Ercetin topped Adrover Gallego 6-0, 6-4 to earn the Golden Gophers lone point of the match. 

The Huskers answered with four consecutive singles wins. Reifeis topped Lucia De Santa Ana 6-1, 7-6(1) at No. 3. Makoric earned a 6-1, 6-3 triumph over Dalila Said to clinch the match win for the Huskers.

At No. 6, Haakenstad outlasted Juliet Zhang with a 6-1, 1-6, 6-2 win. The match concluded as Chloe Kuckelman beat Zeyneb Sarioglan 6-3, 4-6, 10-5 bringing the final score to 6-1. 

Up Next: Nebraska is set to host No. 49 Wisconsin at the Dillon Tennis Center this Sunday at 1 p.m. 

Results
Doubles 

1. Kristina Novak/Maja Makoric (NEB) def. Rachel Hanford/Dalila Said (MINN) 6-3
2. Claire Reifeis/Isabel Adrover Gallego (NEB) def. Zeyneb Sarioglan/River Hart (MINN) 6-2
3. Hayley Haakenstad/Chloe Kuckelman (NEB) vs. Juliet Zhang/Ekin Ercetin (MINN) 4-4, unfinished 

Singles 
1. Kristina Novak (NEB) def. Rachel Hanford (MINN) 6-1, 6-1
2. Ekin Ercetin (MINN) def. Isabel Adrover Gallego (NEB) 6-0, 6-4
3. Claire Reifeis (NEB) def. Lucia De Santa Ana (MINN) 6-1, 7-6(1)
4. Maja Makoric (NEB) def. Dalila Said (MINN) 6-1, 6-3
5. Chloe Kuckelman (NEB) def. Zeyneb Sarioglan (MINN) 6-3, 4-6, 10-5
6. Hayley Haakenstad (NEB) def. Juliet Zhang (MINN) 6-1, 1-6, 6-2

Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (1,2,3,4,6,5)

Gleason, Maruyama Win, But Huskers Fall To Spartans

Lincoln, Neb. -- The Nebraska men's tennis team (0-8, 0-8 Big Ten) fell just short to the Michigan State Spartans (3-6, 3-6 Big Ten), 2-5 on Friday afternoon outdoors at the Dillon Tennis Center.

In doubles competition, junior Patrick Cacciatore and sophomore Albert Sprlak-Puk lost their matchup against Jarreau Campbell/Graydon Lair in the No. 3 spot 3-6. At No. 1, juniors Brandon Perez and Victor Moreno Lozano fell short to Nick Williams and Kazuki Matsuno, 6-7, at the deciding No. 1 spot. The No. 2 match was marked unfinished, tied at 6-6 and 4-4 in the tie break.

To start off singles play, Cacciatore lost to Drew Keene in the No. 6 spot, 2-6, 4-6. At No. 4 and getting his second conference win of the season was William Gleason beating Luke Baylis, 6-2, 7-5. At No. 2, Perez dropped a tough 4-6, 2-6 contest to Nick Williams. Clinching the overall match win for Michigan State was Graydon Lair outlasting Nic Wiedenhorn at No. 5, 6-2, 7-5. At No. 3, Shunya Maruyama continued his singles success with a 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-4) win over Carson Gates. Finishing up singles play at No. 1, Moreno dropped a three-set match to Dylan Heap, 6-7, 6-4, 0-1 (8-10).  

Up next, the Huskers will stay at home and matchup with No. 8 Michigan on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. CT at the Dillon Tennis Center in Lincoln. 
 

Tennis Match Results
Michigan State vs Nebraska
Mar 19, 2021 at Lincoln, NE (Dillon Tennis Center)

Michigan State 5, Nebraska 2

Singles competition

1. Josh Mukherjee (MSU) def. Victor Moreno Lozano (NEB) 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 1-0 (10-8)
2. Nick Williams (MSU) def. Brandon Perez (NEB) 6-4, 6-2
3. Shunya Maruyama (NEB) def. Carson Gates (MSU) 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-4)
4. William Gleason (NEB) def. Luke Baylis (MSU) 6-2, 7-5
5. Graydon Lair (MSU) def. Nic Wiedenhorn (NEB) 6-2, 7-5 6. Drew Keene (MSU) def. Patrick Cacciatore (NEB) 6-2, 6-4

Doubles competition

1. Nick Williams/Kazuki Matsuno (MSU) def. Brandon Perez/Victor Moreno Lozano (NEB) 7-6 (7-5)
2. William Gleason/Shunya Maruyama (NEB) vs. Drew Keene/Reed Crocker (MSU) 6-6 (4-4), unfinished
3. Jarreau Campbell/Graydon Lair (MSU) def. Patrick Cacciatore/Albert Sprlak-Puk (NEB) 6-3

Match Notes:
Michigan State 3-6
Nebraska 0-8
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (6,4,2,5,3,1)

Huskers to Finish Regular Season Against Hawkeyes

The No. 4 Nebraska men's gymnastics team is set to take on the No. 8 Iowa Hawkeyes this Saturday, March 20 at 3:00 p.m. CT at the Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. This is the last regular season meet and will count towards the Big Ten regular season championship standings. 

The last time the two teams met was Jan. 26, 2020 when the Huskers outscored the Hawkeyes 409.850-402.950. Nebraska leads the series 56-32-2. 

Last Time Out 

NU (2-3) competed at home for the final time this season against No. 5 Ohio State. The Huskers won 411.100-406.700 to advance their home win streak to 10 and complete a second undefeated season at home. Nebraska earned four team season-high scores and three event titles. 

Freshman Taylor Christopulos led the Huskers with his fourth vault title and matched his career-high score of 14.95. Christopulos went on to earn Big Ten Freshman of the Week and NCAA Rookie of the Week honors. Sophomore Cooper Giles earned a career high on pommel horse of 14.40 while also taking home the event title. Also notching a career high, senior Evan Hymanson claimed the parallel bars title with a score of 14.55. 

Scouting the Competition 

The Hawkeyes (3-2) are coming off a loss against Ohio State 395.750-406.100, their second-lowest team score of the season. Despite the loss, Iowa claimed three event titles and earned two team season-high event scores notching a 69.10 on floor and a 66.50 on parallel bars. 

Iowa was led by senior Bennett Huang who claimed the all-around title with a score of 81.10. Junior Stewart Brown claimed the floor title with a career-high score of 14.35, and junior Noah Scigliano claimed the high bar title with a score of 13.20. 

Follow the Huskers 

Fans can follow @NebraskaMensGym on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter for live updates during the meet. The meet will also be on the Big Ten Network at 3:00 p.m. CT. 

Huskers Travel to Minneapolis for Big Ten Championships

Nebraska Cornhuskers (1-12, 1-8 Big Ten) at Big Ten Championships
Saturday, March 20, 12:00 p.m. CT -- Minneapolis, Minn. (Maturi Pavilion)
Live Scores: Huskers.com
TV: BTN


Lincoln, Neb. -- The Nebraska women's gymnastics team heads to Minneapolis, Minn. to take part in the Big Ten Championships. NU will participate in the afternoon session, which begins at noon, alongside Maryland, Ohio State, Penn State and Rutgers.

The Huskers last took the floor on March 14 against the Iowa Hawkeyes. NU posted its second best team score of the season, 196.100. Senior Makayla Curtis recorded two career-highs, a 9.95 on balance beam and a 9.90 on floor exercise. Senior Anika Dujakovich won a share of the vault title with a score of 9.90. Junior Kynsee Roby was also impressive with a 9.925 on balance beam.

The Big Ten Championships will feature nine teams, five in the afternoon session and four in the evening session. Nebraska has finished in the top four at the conference championships every year since joining the Big Ten in 2012, and last won the title in 2013.

Nebraska has seen significant improvement throughout the 2021 season, which is reflected in the program's team scores. The Huskers have not dropped below a 195 team score since Feb. 7, and recorded their highest score of the season on March 5 against Minnesota. NU looks to ride that momentum into this weekend's event.

The conference announced on Wednesday that junior Kynsee Roby earned First Team All-Big Ten honors and senior Anika Dujakovich earned Second Team All-Big Ten honors. NU will look to its All-conference selections for big scores in Minneapolis. 

NU looks to build momentum heading into NCAA Regionals with a strong performance at the conference championships. Nebraska also looks to improve their national ranking, as they sit as the No. 36 team in the country as of March 15.

Nebraska takes part in the afternoon session of the Big Ten Championships on Saturday, March 20. The meet will be broadcast on BTN.

Fans can follow the Huskers on Twitter at @HuskersWGym, Instagram at @HuskersWGymnastics and Facebook at facebook.com/NebraskaWGym.

Notes:

NEBRASKA ENTERS WEEK TEN RANKED NO. 36
The Huskers enter Friday's meet as the No. 36 team in the country, as ranked by the Road to Nationals poll. NU ranks No. 26 on beam, No. 27 on vault, No. 34 on bars and No. 41 on floor. Nebraska looks to climb the rankings with a strong performance in Minneapolis.

ROBY RANKED NO. 20 ON BALANCE BEAM
Senior Kynsee Roby, who has served as NU's cornerstone on balance beam, ranks No. 20 in the country on the apparatus. Roby won at least a share of the event title in three of Nebraska's first six meets, which included a score of 9.95 against Rutgers. She has won five total event titles throughout the 2021 season.

ROBY, DUJAKOVICH EARN ALL-BIG TEN STATUS
The Big Ten Conference announced on Wednesday, March 17, that junior Kynsee Roby was named a First Team All-Big Ten selection, while senior Anika Dujakovich was announced as a Second Team All-Big Ten selection. Dujakovich was also honored with the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.

Roby collects her first All-Big Ten selection after her most consistent season as a Husker. She finished the regular season No. 5 in the conference and No. 20 on balance beam with a national qualifying score (NQS) of 9.919 and a season high of 9.95. Dujakovich also picks up her first All-Big Ten honor following a strong senior campaign. She broke or tied career-highs on vault and floor exercise, and consistently provided the Huskers with impressive scores.

SIX GYMNASTS EARN ACADEMIC ALL-BIG TEN STATUS
Six Husker gymnasts have earned Academic All-Big Ten honors, as announced by the conference on Wednesday, March 17. The list features seniors Anika Dujakovich and Megan Verceles Carr, junior Kynsee Roby and sophomores Clara ColomboKylie Piringer and Kathryn Thaler. Dujakovich and Roby earn their third Academic All-Big Ten honors, while Verceles Carr picks up her second.

YOUTH SHINES FOR NU THROUGHOUT SEASON
Nebraska's freshmen have provided crucial depth for the program throughout the 2021 season. All five first-year athletes have seen action this year, after Joanne De Jesus-Cortes and Martina Comin making their debuts on Feb. 15 against Michigan. Kinsey Davis picked up her first career event title against Rutgers on Feb. 7, while Chloe Lorange has served as NU's lone all-around competitor numerous times this season. Danielle Press set a season-high on Feb. 15 on vault, with a score of 9.875 and a season-high on floor of 9.875 on March 5.

The most impressive freshman performance for NU came on Feb. 26 at the Big Five meet. Davis picked up a score of 9.95 on uneven bars at the event, becoming the first Husker gymnast to record a score of 9.95 or higher on the event since Sienna Crouse on March 16, 2019. For her efforts, Davis was named the Big Ten Conference's Co-Freshman of the Week on March 1.

NU HONORED DUJAKOVICH ON SENIOR NIGHT
Nebraska honored Anika Dujakovich last Sunday on Senior Night against Iowa. Dujakovich is nearing the end of a stellar four-year career. She is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, a 2020 WCGA Academic All-American and has recorded strong scores in the gym. 

DAVIS EARNS BIG TEN CO-FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK HONORS (March 1)
The Big Ten Conference announced on Monday, March 1 that freshman Kinsey Davis was named Co-Big Ten Freshman of the Week. Davis earns the honor following a stellar performance on uneven bars at the Big Five meet on Feb. 26.

Davis set a career-high on uneven bars at the Big Five meet on Feb. 26 with an impressive score of 9.95. This score is NU's highest on uneven bars this season, and is tied for the program's highest score on any event in 2021. Davis' score is also tied for the sixth-highest in the nation this season.

NU RANKED THIRD IN BIG TEN PRESEASON POLL
The Huskers enter the 2021 season as the No. 3 ranked team in the Big Ten Preseason Coaches' Poll. Michigan and Minnesota claimed the top two spots in the poll, while Iowa and Illinois round out the top five. 

BIG TEN SCHEDULE IN 2021
The Big Ten Conference announced that its members will participate in a conference-only regular season. Week one of the season for Nebraska will serve as a non-conference meet against Big Ten foe Illinois. Weeks 2-7 will serve as the Big Ten regular season, with the Big Ten regular season champion being crowned at the Big Five meet. Weeks eight and nine include non-conference meets against Big Ten opponents. 

ROBY, DAVIS NAMED GYMNASTS TO WATCH
The conference announced that senior Kynsee Roby and freshman Kinsey Davis were selected as Nebraska's Big Ten Women's Gymnasts to Watch for the 2021 season. 

ROSTER OUTLOOK
The Huskers welcome back three seniors for the 2021 season. Makayla CurtisAnika Dujakovich and Kynsee Roby will serve as veteran leaders for the program. The lone junior on the Huskers' squad is newcomer Kaitlyn Higgins, who started her career at Minnesota and will add depth for NU on beam and floor.

Nebraska's sophomore class consists of Clara ColomboKathryn Thaler and Kylie Piringer. Piringer looks to build upon the strong foundation she set during her freshman campaign after being named a second team All-Big Ten selection following the 2020 season. Head coach Heather Brink also welcomes six freshmen, Martina CominKinsey DavisJoanne De Jesus-Cortes, Chloé Lorange, Danielle Press and Caroline Williams.

HUSKERS INTRODUCE FIVE 2021 SIGNEES
Head Coach Heather Brink announced the signing of five future Husker gymnasts joining the 2021 women's gymnastics signing class. Ayzhia Hall (Fayetteville, AR), Emma Simpton (Dallas, Texas), Halle Rourke (Waverly, Neb.), Savanah Warren (Parker, CO) and Emma Spence (Cambridge, Ontario) will join NU's program for the 2021-22 season. 

CORNHUSKERS REPRESENT ACROSS UNITED STATES AND BEYOND
Nebraska features gymnasts from six states:  Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, North Carolina, New Jersey and Texas. The Huskers also feature three international gymnasts, Clara Colombo and Martina Comin of Italy and Chloé Lorange of Canada.