Kearney, Neb. – The 23rd-ranked Nebraska-Kearney men's tennis team beat one of the nation's top junior colleges, Cowley County, by a 6-3 score Tuesday night in Grand Island.

The Tigers, from Arkansas City, Kan., are ranked sixth in NJCAA Division I. Many of its players will go on to play for Division I and II schools.

UNK swept doubles to get out to a 3-0 lead. Junior Mohab El Zanaty (Egypt) and redshirt freshman Raul Rodriguez (Spain) had a close call, win 9-7 in the third spot.

The teams split the singles matches with two decided by a third set tie breaker. UNK won one of those as sophomore Joey Richards (Eden Prairie, Minn.) bested Lucas Freitas in the second position, 6-1, 4-6, 10-5.

Zanaty was the most dominate Loper, winning at No. 4 singles by a 6-0, 6-1 score.

The Kearney men are now off until next Friday when they host the William Jewell (Mo.) Cardinals at 2:00 p.m. The Friday, the UNK women host WJC at 2:00 p.m. in G.I.