Loper Tennis Takes Down Tigers

KEARNEY – The now 43-ranked Nebraska-Kearney women’s team beat rival Fort Hays State, 6-1, Wednesday afternoon at Harmon Park.

This was the regular season finale for the Lopers (14-10, 4-4). They’ll likely be the sixth seed in next weekend’s (April 21-23) MIAA Tournament in Edmond, Okla. The brackets for that event will be released this weekend after completion of all regular season duals. ​

To beat the Tigers (7-13, 0-8) for an 11th straight time, UNK allowed just five combined points in doubles and won four singles matches in straight sets.

In preparation for the postseason, the Lopers changed up its doubles lineup as junior Jazmin Zamorano (Mexico) and sophomore Alexis Bernthal (Boulder, Colo.) were at number one with sophomore Masha Hatouka (Belarus) and freshman Olivia Flood (Kearney) at number three. This is the first time those teams have played doubles together this spring. The number two team of junior Melisa Becerra (Colombia) and Narindra Ranaivo (Madagascar) moves to 3-0 in duals. 

At number five singles, Hatouka earned her 14th singles win (6-0, 6-0) with Zamorano getting win 15 at number two (6-2, 6-0). Finally, prior to the match, senior Thi Huynh (Lincoln North Star) was honored. She is a four-year team member and four-time MIAA Academic Honor Roll qualifier.

The NCAA Region Rankings were released again today with UNK remaining sixth in the Central. The region receives six bids to the NCAA Tournament next month.