Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney women's tennis team won a couple of close doubles matches and then rolled in singles to defeat William Jewell (Mo.), 8-1, Friday evening in Grand Island.
 
The Lopers, ranked 7th in the Central Region, move to 3-0 while the Cardinals, from the Great Lakes Valley Conference, drop to 1-2.
 
At No. 1 doubles, senior Vanessa Gunawan (Indonesia) and sophomore Paula Jimenez (Spain) managed an 8-5 victory. Things were even closer in the third spot as freshman Renee Hoekstra (East Lansing, Mich.) and junior Kari Emery (Tucson, Ariz.) won by an 8-6 score.
 
Up 3-0 heading into singles, the Lopers won five matches in straight sets. Jimenez (7-5, 6-4) had a battle in the third spot as did senior Kristin Weems (Arlington, Texas) at the No. 2 position, getting past Savannah Drew by identical 7-5 scores.
 
As usual, Gunawan was dominant at No. 1 singles (6-1, 6-1). She is ranked 11th in the Central Region.
 
Kearney is off until next Saturday when they face NAIA Ottawa U. (Kans.) at the Racquet Center of G.I. First serve is set for 9:00 a.m.