Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney tennis team began its dual season in earnest this weekend as both Loper teams beat Nebraska Wesleyan and the women battled Division I Arkansas-Little Rock.

On Saturday at the Buffalo County Fairground, the men (2-1) swept the Prairie Wolves while the women (1-2) won by a 5-4 score. In Lincoln against the UALR Trojans, the Lopers fell 6-0 Friday afternoon but could've won several matches.

The Trojans, who also own wins over Nebraska-Omaha and Creighton, won 9-8 at No. 1 doubles and 8-6 at No. 3 doubles. UNK was leading each match late before Little Rock rallied.

UNK played two true freshmen, Cassie Shaw (Flower Mound, Texas) and Victoria Gunawan (Indonesia), in the top spot with McCook junior Melissa Lyster and Kearney freshman Jamie Wells playing in the third position.

UALR wrapped up the matches with straight set wins at No. 3, 4 and 6 singles but Kearney freshman Dominique Kropp won her first set, 6-4, at No. 5 singles. She was then up 4-1 in the second set before the match was called.

The Prairie Wolves made things interesting Saturday morning as they won 8-6 at No. 2 doubles and in straight sets at No. 4 and 6 singles. Chelsea Henslee then won a marathon match over Missouri freshman Britni Norfolk (6-1, 4-6, 11-9) to score Wesleyan's other point.

To secure the dual win, Wells and Lyster won 8-5 in doubles and Shaw was victorious 6-3, 6-4 at No. 2 singles.

The men didn't allow more than three points in any of its doubles wins. Things were tougher in singles as Elkhorn junior Josh Raymond won 6-2, 4-6, 10-4 in the No. 1 spot and Indian freshman Yeswanth Nadella did the same in the second spot (6-0, 3-6, 10-5).

Both teams head to Kansas and Missouri this weekend where they will face Washburn, Newman, Emporia State and NW Missouri State over four days.