Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney tennis teams both fell to NW Missouri State Friday night (6-3 women & 9-0 men) in Grand Island with the Loper women bouncing back to sweep Missouri Western State on Saturday.
 
The Loper men, ranked 7th in the Central Region, are now 6-4 (0-1) while the UNK women, ranked 10th in the Central, are 8-1 (1-1).
 
NW Missouri is among the top teams in the MIAA, currently tabbed fourth (women) and first (men) in the region.  In the women's dual against the Bearcats, UNK lost all three doubles matches by scores of 8-4, 8-5 and 8-4.
 
Texas sophomore Kristin Weems got the Lopers on the board with a straight sets (6-1, 6-1) win at No. 2 singles with Indonesia junior Vanessa Gunawan having to work overtime (6-7, 6-3, 10-7) to win in the first position.
 
The Bearcats managed to win three of the other four singles matches, all in straight sets.
 
The men's match was closer than the score would indicate as Northwest managed wins of 8-6 (No. 1) and 8-5 (No. 2) to take a 3-0 lead after doubles.
 
The 'Cats continued to live right, winning in three sets at both No. 2 and No. 4 singles. Grand Island senior John Steinke fell 10-5 in his third set tie breaker with Kansas senior Arin Enge losing 11-9 in the fourth spot.
 
On Saturday, the Loper women didn't drop a set to the Griffons with the closest doubles match being an 8-5 score.
 
Both teams host Southwest Baptist next Saturday with the women playing Lincoln the day before. On Wednesday, the men entertain Ottawa U. (Kans.).

If the weather is nice, all of those duals could be played at Harmon Park in Kearney.