Kearney, Neb. – The 27th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney men's tennis team won two close doubles matches and took the last three singles matches to slip past 28th-ranked Southwest Baptist, 5-4, Friday afternoon at a cold Harmon Park.

On the women's side, the Bearcats managed a 5-4 win over the Lopers in a battle of regionally-ranked squads. UNK (14-3, 4-2) came back to sweep Lincoln, 9-0, in the evening.

The Loper men (13-1, 2-0) had never beaten longtime D2 power SBU before, including falling to the 'Cats (7-3, 1-1) three times last season. The last setback came in the NCAA Tournament.

To start the dual, all three doubles matches went down to the wire with UNK winning in the first and second spots. This was the second dual in a row the Lopers used a new lineup in these positions.  

At No. 1 doubles, sophomore Lucas Garces (Spain) and freshman Georges Wakim (Egypt) picked up the first team point with an 8-6 win over Kristof Kinal and Sherif Abohabaga.  The SBU pair came in ranked sixth in the region.

After a Loper rally fell short at No. 3 doubles, 9-7, sophomore Mohab El Zanaty (Egypt) and freshman Joey Richards (Eden Prairie, Minn.) hung on for an 8-6 win. The beat a 'Cat duo ranked ninth regionally.

SBU more than bounced back as they won at No. 1-3 singles, dropping just two sets along the way. The Loper comeback started when El Zanaty remained unbeaten on the year (14-0) with a 6-3, 6-2 win in the fourth spot.

Next, Texas freshman Aaron Reekie won for the 11th time this dual season (6-4, 6-2), setting up Colorado sophomore Justin Nguyen at No. 6 singles.

Nguyen is now 5-0 as he won 6-4, 6-4 to score the fifth team point. It wasn't easy, however, as Alex Belote almost came back from a 5-2 deficit in the first set and led 4-0 in the next before Nguyen scored six straight.

On the women's side, senior Kari Emery (Tucson, Ariz.) and freshman Emma Neil (Papillion) rolled to an 8-4 win at No. 3 doubles to score UNK's first point.

SBU forfeited at No. 6 singles and then junior Paula Jimenez (Spain) won her 13th match of the year, at 6-1, 6-4 decision at No. 3 singles. However, Zorana Jovanovic rallied in the second set to win at No. 6 singles (6-3, 7-5) to secure the dual win for SBU.

UNK hosts Washburn next Wednesday and Emporia State on Saturday.