Kearney, Neb. – The 17th-ranked Northeastern State RiverHawks won three singles matches to beat Nebraska-Kearney, 5-1, in an NCAA Tournament second match Monday morning in Tahlequah, Okla.

Seeded second in the Central Regional, the win helps NSU (20-5) advance to the NCAA Sweet 16 in Arizona. The region's sixth seed, UNK ends the year at 22-8.

The Lopers had already dropped two matches to NSU this year, 8-1 during the regular season and 5-0 in the MIAA Tournament. Last season, UNK lost by scores of 7-2 (regular season) and 5-1 (NCAA first round) to the 'Hawks.

Senior Kari Emery (Tucson, Ariz.) and freshman Emma Neil (Papillion-LaVista H.S.) got UNK on the board with a solid 8-4 win at No. 3 doubles. The win helps the pair finish the year 18-6 and avenge a 9-8 (4) loss to NSU on April 25th.

UNK briefly led in the other two matches but eventually fell by scores of 8-2 (No. 1) and 8-4 (No. 2). In singles, nationally-ranked Kristina Savchenkov (No. 1) and Patricia Huskova (No. 2) won in straight sets with Valeriia Efimenko doing the same in the fourth spot.

When Husakova won to score the fifth team point, Emery was leading at No. 6 singles (6-1, 1-2) with Neil doing the same at the fifth position (6-3, 1-0).

UNK had just two seniors on its roster in Emery and Kristin Weems (Arlington, Texas). Regionally-ranked in singles all season, Weems was at No. 1 singles and paired with junior Paula Jimenez at No. 2 doubles.

Also, sophomore Emily Fink (Elkhorn South H.S.) is forgoing her final two years to finish up a Nursing degree. She was mainly at No. 4 singles and No. 1 doubles this year.