Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney men's tennis team is up six spots to 27th in the latest ITA (Intercollegiate Tennis Association) National Division II rankings.
 
The Lopers are off to a 12-1 (1-0) start, heading into Friday's showdown with 28th-ranked Southwest Baptist (7-2, 1-0). The Bearcats are a longtime MIAA and Division II power.
 
Individually, sophomore Lucas Garces (Spain) and freshman Joey Richards (Eden Prairie, Minn.) are ranked 14th nationally in doubles. The pair, who finished as ITA national runners up in the fall, are 8-3 to date at No. 1 doubles.
 
SBU is led by the nation's 36th-ranked singles player in Kristof Kinal. In the Central Region, UNK is the third-ranked team with the 'Cats fourth.
 
On the women's side, the Lopers (13-2, 3-1) will face SBU and the Lincoln Blue Tigers on Friday. UNK is ranked fifth in the Central with SBU (11-1, 2-1) the top team.
 
Southwest Baptist has the nation's fourth ranked doubles team in Fanni Varga and Christina Zentai with Varga ranked 20th in singles.
 
The Lopers counter with the Central's 16th-ranked singles player in Kristin Weems (Arlington, Texas) with Sthefani Rodriguez (Venezuela) and Emily Fink (Elkhorn South H.S.) the region's 5th-ranked pair.
 
The SBU dual begins at 10:00 a.m. with the match vs. LU slated to begin at 3:00 p.m. Both duals will be held at Harmon Park.