The Red Raiders battled fiercely, pushing undefeated Nebraska to the brink in a dramatic 4-3 home loss, showcasing grit and depth.
The margin between victory and defeat is narrow in collegiate athletics, and that reality played out Friday as the Texas Tech Red Raiders dropped a tightly contested 4-3 decision to the unbeaten Nebraska Cornhuskers in Lubbock.
Texas Tech entered the match looking to make a statement against a Nebraska team that hadn’t lost all season, and the Red Raiders showed early that the Huskers wouldn’t have an easy afternoon.
Doubles proved decisive, however, as Nebraska claimed two of the three courts to secure the opening point. Texas Tech earned a quality win at the top spot, but Nebraska’s ability to close out the other courts sent the Huskers into singles play with a narrow edge.
From there, the match turned into a grind.
The Red Raiders struck first in singles behind a composed performance from Niksa Arsic, who delivered a straight-set victory on court one. Nebraska answered quickly, evening the momentum with a win in the middle of the lineup, before Texas Tech responded again.
Sebastian Abboud came through in a pressure-filled match, taking a first-set tiebreak before pulling away to give Tech another crucial point. Moments later, Thiago Guglieri added to the surge with a hard-earned straight-set win that included a second-set tiebreak, pushing the Red Raiders within striking distance of the upset.
With the match hanging in the balance, Nebraska leaned on its depth. The Huskers captured two three-set battles late, edging Texas Tech on courts two and three to clinch the overall victory. Each of those matches swung back and forth, underscoring just how evenly matched the teams were across the lineup.
Despite the loss, the performance was an encouraging sign for a Texas Tech squad still early in its spring schedule.
Pushing an undefeated opponent to the final points highlighted the Red Raiders’ competitiveness and resilience, traits that have long defined the program.
Friday’s result didn’t go in the win column, but it showed the Red Raiders are capable of battling with anyone on the schedule.
Texas Tech will look to turn that effort into a win when it returns to action Saturday afternoon against Wichita State Shockers at the Lubbock Country Club.