UNK Women’s Tennis Fall in Doubleheader

KEARNEY – The Nebraska Kearney women’s tennis team fell to both Augustana and Cowley (KS) by 4-2 scores Sunday at the Ernest Grundy Tennis Center.

Both UNK (8-2) and Augie (4-0) are receiving votes for the Division II Top 25; the Cowley Tigers (1-1) are ranked second in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).

In the morning against the Vikings, UNK dropped the doubles point as AU won 6-4 at one and 6-2 at three. Sophomores Masha Hatouka (Belarus) and Narindra Ranaivo (Madagascar) won 6-4 at two.

Ranaivo, ranked 20th in the Central Region, bested Ocal Senem in straight sets (7-5, 7-5) to tally UNK’s first point. Senem came in ranked 17th in the region. However, AU won in straight sets at one, six and five to secure the dual win. Junior Melisa Becerra (Colombia) managed a three-set win at number two to record the Lopers other point.

From Arkansas City, Kan., Cowley’s lineup is made up of NJCAA nationally-ranked players. They took the doubles point and then won at six, five and one singles to secure the dual.

At number three, Ranavio beat 10th-ranked Isid Hernandez (7-6, 6-2) with Colorado sophomore Alexis Bernthal ahead of 13th-ranked Ntokozo Zunga (4-6, 6-4, 2-1) before that number four match was stopped. Junior lefty Jazmin Zamorano (Mexico) almost got past sixth-ranked Ariana Babenko in the top spot (4-6, 6-4, 5-7) with Becerra recording another three-set win at two.

UNK is off next weekend in preparation for the 2023 ITA Division II National Indoor Championships February 24-26 at the Grundy.