Kearney, Neb. - The Nebraska-Kearney women's tennis team will be sending a sophomore to the 2011 USTA/ITA Small College Championships in Mobile, Ala. 

On Sunday afternoon at Harmon Park in Kearney, sophomore Vanessa Gunawan (Indonesia) beat Amanda Nunez of Upper Iowa (6-1, 6-1) to win the ITA Central Regional singles title.

Gunawan reached the finals with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Paula Peters of William Jewell (Mo.). Peters was part of the doubles team that won the title Sunday night and will also be going to Alabama on October 13-16. 

The three-day regional was held at Harmon and Harvey Parks as well as the Buffalo County Fairgrounds. Besides the Lopers, seven other schools were in attendance.

Due to wet court conditions, the semifinals were played indoors this morning and then the finals were played at Harmon this afternoon.

Gunawan, the second-seed, jumped on Nunez, the top-seed, right away, getting out to a 3-0 lead in the first set. She never looked back becoming the first UNK women's player to win an ITA singles or doubles regional title.

On the weekend, Gunawan won each of her matches in straight sets, allowing just 11 points in the process. The 17-year old joined UNK in January and went 16-5 during the spring dual season as the Lopers No. 1 singles player.

Last weekend at the Washburn Invite, Gunawan won the "A" draw by not dropping a set in beating players from Washburn and NW Missouri State.

UNK will host the men's ITA Regional in two weeks.