Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney tennis teams picked up a pair of key wins as the Lopers beat Metro State, 7-2 (women) and 6-3 (men), Thursday afternoon in Denver.

The UNK women win a sixth straight match to improve to 12-6 (3-0 RMAC) while the men are now 12-7 (3-0 RMAC). These victories should help the Lopers move up in the Central Region as the Metro men were ranked two spots ahead of UNK with the women's teams tied for third.

On the women's side, Kearney almost won by a 9-0 score as the 'Runners only victories came at No. 3 doubles, 9-8 (7-4), and at No. 2 singles, 6-1, 2-6, 10-7.

Of note, this was the first doubles loss for senior Nickola Messbarger (Kearney Catholic) and freshman Tealyn Trimble (Kearney) this spring.

Messbarger got a bit of revenge as she won at No. 5 singles over Nikki Amos by a 7-6 (12-10), 6-3 score with freshman Kristin Weems (Arlington, Texas) pulling out a win in the third spot against Nadia Khamis, 6-4, 3-6, 10-5.

The Loper men also led 2-1 after doubles thanks to scores of 8-6 (No. 1) and 8-5 (No. 2).

In one of the top RMAC singles matches of the year, senior Josh Raymond (Elkhorn) edged Lucio Cangiano in the top spot, 7-5, 7-6 (7-3). Cangiano is ranked No. 1 in singles with Raymond third in the latest ITA (Intercollegiate Tennis
Association) region rankings.

The only singles match not decided in straight sets came in the second position with sophomore Yeswanth Nadella rallying past Gabriel Vlahos, 4-6, 6-2, 6-2.

UNK is in Pueblo, Colo., the next two days to take CSU-Pueblo, Colorado Mesa and Western New Mexico.