Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney tennis team ventured into Kansas and Missouri this past weekend to take on Washburn, Newman and NW Missouri State.

A scheduled dual with Emporia State was canceled due to weather, as was a women's contest vs. Drury (Mo.).

The Loper men, now ranked second in the Central Region, fell to Washburn, 5-3, and to the Bearcats, 8-1. UNK did beat the Newman Jets, 5-2.

The women, ranked sixth in the Central, went 2-1 on the weekend, beating Newman, 6-1, and NW Missouri State, 5-4, while losing to Washburn, 7-2. The win over the Bearcats is believed to be the Lopers first-ever in women's tennis.

Against the Ichabods and Lady Blues on Thursday, the UNK men put up a good fight against a team that is ranked nationally.

UNK's top doubles team of junior Josh Raymond (Elkhorn) and freshman Yeswanth Nadella (India) led late but lost 9-7. The Lopers did pick up a point in doubles as sophomore Rodrigo Duncan (Mexico) and freshman Josh Smith (Independence, Mo.) won 8-5 in the third spot.

Next, Raymond and Nadella won in straight sets at No. 1 and 2 singles but the Ichabods secured the dual win by winning at No. 3, 5 and 6 singles.

The women also won at No. 3 doubles against Washburn with freshman Britni Norfolk (Brashear, Mo.) winning at No. 4 singles (6-3, 2-6, 10-5) to score the other team point.

Remaining in Topeka on Friday to take on Newman, the men trailed 2-1 after doubles as Raymond and Nadella were clipped 9-8 with the No. 2 team of John Steinke (Grand Island) and Kyle Cozemius (Lincoln Pius) falling 8-6.

Raymond managed a close win in singles (2-6, 7-5, 10-4), as did Smith (4-6, 7-6, 17-15), to help UNK rally.

The women's dual wasn't a close as UNK led 3-0 after doubles. Wins by Norfolk and fellow freshman Cassie Shaw (Flower Mound, Texas) and Heather Connolly (Highland Village, Texas) wrapped up the team victory.

Finally, on Sunday at an indoor court in St. Joseph, the Lopers took on future MIAA foe NW Missouri State.

The Loper men's only point came at No. 2 doubles as Steinke and Conzemius won 8-5. Duncan suffered a close loss at No. 3 singles (6-3, 2-6, 4-10) with Nadella also putting up at fight in the second spot (4-6, 6-7).

The women managed to pull the upset thanks to a 3-0 performance in doubles. Junior Melissa Lyster (McCook) and freshman Jamie Wells (Holdrege) won 8-4 in the third spot to go 3-0 on the road trip.

Norfolk (6-2, 6-0) won again as did freshman Victoria Gunawan (Indonesia) in the No. 1 position (6-1, 6-1) to hold off the Bearcats.

UNK is off until a March 16th road date at Hastings College.