Loper Tennis Upsets UCO

KEARNEY – Junior lefty Jazmin Zamorano won a third-set tiebreaker over 50th-ranked Pete Komada to help 44th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney upset 28th-ranked Central Oklahoma, 4-3, Sunday afternoon at Harmon Park.

The Lopers move to 12-9 (3-3) while the Bronchos fall to 7-7 (2-2). Earlier this year at the ITA Indoor Team Championships, the ‘Chos beat UNK by the same score. The Blue & Gold have now been involved in nine matches decided by a 4-3 or 4-2 score this dual season.

Zamorano (Mexico) and sophomore Melisa Becerra (Colombia) pulled off a big upset at number one doubles as they beat Division II’s third ranked tandem of Nikki Boyar and Blythe Buntrock, 6-1. Back in February, Boyar and Buntrock won 6-2. UCO still took the doubles point today as they allowed four combined points in the other two matches.

The Lopers fought back as Becerra (one) and sophomore Narindra Ranaivo (four) took their singles matches in straight sets with sophomore Masha Hatouka rallying at five (2-6, 6-1, 6-3). With things tied at three on the scoreboard, Zamorano outlasted Komada by a 3-6, 7-6, 6-3 count. She was down 5-3 in the second before scoring three in a row. Finally, Zamorano broke a 3-3 tie in the third set with three straight points.

UNK heads to Missouri Western State next Saturday.