Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney tennis teams faced Washburn, NW Missouri State and Emporia State this past weekend.

The men (4-3) won at Emporia on Saturday, 6-3, after losing at No. 22 Washburn, 5-0, on Thursday and to No. 26 NW Missouri State, 8-1, on Friday. The NW Missouri dual was held at Washburn.

On the women's side, the Lopers (2-3) lost to No. 34 Washburn, 5-2, and then lost to the ESU Hornets, 6-3. UNK didn't face NW Missouri.

Against Emporia, the Loper men jumped out to a 2-1 lead after winning at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles. Four of the six singles matches went to a super tiebreaker and UNK came out on top in three of them.

In the No. 1 spot, Elkhorn sophomore Josh Raymond got by Kevin Schoon (6-3, 3-6, 10-3), Grand Island freshman John Steinke won in the fourth spot (6-4, 6-7, 10-5) and Lincoln freshman Kyle Conzemius won at No. 5 singles (3-6, 6-2, 10-7).

In the loss on Thursday in Topeka, Raymond was giving Ryan Ward (2-6, 6-5) a battle at No. 1 singles. That match ended when the Ichabods scored the fifth team point.

Against Northwest, Conzemius recorded UNK's lone point with a 0-6, 7-6, 10-7 victory against Dan Quesada.

The Loper women gave the Washburn Lady Blues a battle, dropping two doubles matches by 8-5 scores. Seniors Katie-Mary Outhwaite and Kristen Messbarger did score an impressive 8-5 win at No. 1 doubles against Morgan Rainey and Trang Le Nguyen.

Rainey and Le Nguyen are among the best doubles team in the MIAA.  In singles, senior Mizuki Takahashi won in the third spot (6-2, 7-5).

The Lopers were shot handed against Emporia as Outhwaite was unavailable. Former Loper volleyball player Jackie Keithley (Elkhorn) filled in at No. 3 doubles and No. 6 singles.

Despite a jumbled lineup, Takahashi and sophomore Nickola Messbarger won at No. 2 doubles (8-6) as did sophomore Melissa Lyster at No. 5 singles (6-4, 3-6, 10-6). Finally, the elder Messbarger and senior Claire Bryan lost by just a 9-7 score at No. 1 doubles.

Both UNK teams will play at UNO on Saturday. On Sunday, the Loper women will play at Missouri Western State and take on Drury in Maryville, Mo.