UNK Lopers // UNK Communications
EDMOND, OKLA. – The 34th-ranked Missouri Western State Griffons won four singles matches to down 15th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney, 4-2, in the MIAA Tournament Championship Sunday morning in Edmond, Okla.
MWSU (17-3) receives the automatic bid to the NCAA Championships; the field will be announced Monday night at 7:30 p.m. Central. UNK (19-5) was the top team in the last Central Region rankings and is in line to make the event for the first time since 2018 and the 12th time in program history.
Earlier this year, UNK rallied from a 3-1 deficit to beat the Griffons. This time, Mo West came back from a 1-0 hole to end the Lopers seven-match winning streak. The Blue & Gold is now 8-4 vs. Top 40 squads.
In doubles, freshmen [/roster.aspx?rp_id=9245]Tanyaradzwa “Tanya” Midzi (Zimbabwe) and Fabiana Gamboa (Venezuela) won 6-3 at three to give UNK the point. As usual, senior Melisa Becerra (Colombia) and junior Narindra Ranaivo (Madagascar) won in the top spot, 6-1.
Becerra then ran her win streak to nine after a 6-2, 6-4 win at two singles to make it 2-0. However, the Griffs won at one in straight sets and then Anais Peralta recorded a win at three (6-2, 3-6, 6-1). The dual was clinched after nationally-ranked Cristina Boj Granero rallied from a 4-3 deficit in the third set at four (6-2, 0-6, 6-4) and Maria Saez won at five (6-0, 6-0).
Heading into next weekend, Becerra and Ranaivo are 22-2 with Ranaivo at a team-best 18 singles wins in duals.
