Loper Tennis Ends Season in First Round of MIAA’s

EDMOND, OK – The 38th-ranked Missouri Western State Griffons downed 47th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney, 4-1, Friday evening in a MIAA Tournament first-round match in Edmond, Okla.

The Griffons (13-5) face two-seed Washburn in a semifinal match on Saturday while the Lopers (14-11) see their season come to an end. UNK is ranked sixth in the most recent NCAA Region Rankings but the sixth and final spot will go to the Great American Conference (GAC) Tourney winner i.e. automatic bid. 

Of UNK’s 25 duals this year, 13 came against current Top 50 squads. The Lopers also beat Division I Niagara (N.Y.) this year in Florida.

Just a few weeks ago in St. Joseph, the Lopers lost 6-1 to the Griffs but three of the singles matches went to three sets. Today’s dual was equally as close but MWSU again managed to come out on top. 

Mo West took the doubles points thanks to identical 6-2 wins in the second and third spots. UNK’s Melisa Becerra (Colombia) and Narindra Ranaivo (Madagascar) were up 5-4 at number one.

The Griffs won in straight sets at number six singles with Becerra, ranked 38th nationally, blowing by 42nd-ranked Isabella MacGibbon (6-0, 6-1) in the top spot. However, 56th-ranked Anya Chavez won in straight sets at number two and then Spanish freshman Lucia Casas Blas got past Colorado sophomore Alexis Bernthal at four (7-6; 7-2/6-2) to clinch the dual. Finally, Ranavio was just a point away from winning at three (6-0, 5-2) with Belarus sophomore Masha Hatouka in a battle at five (6-7; 5-7; 3-4).

Four-year team member Thi Huynh (Lincoln North Star) is UNK’s only senior this year. The rest of the squad is slated to return with a couple of newcomers joining the mix as well in 2023-24.