Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney tennis teams finished off a busy week by splitting with the Drury University Panthers, the men winning 6-3 and the women falling 7-2, Saturday afternoon in Springfield, Mo.

This was the final regular season dual for UNK as the MIAA Tournament starts next weekend.

The 21st-ranked Loper men (19-2) continued their banner season by beating 40th-ranked DU (11-7), a longtime national power who is currently ranked seventh in the Midwest Region.

They key win came at No. 2 doubles where juniors Mohab El Zanaty (Egypt) and Lucas Garces (Spain) saved four match points in route to a 9-8 (12-10) victory. The Loper tandem came in ranked 12th in the Central with Drury's Amato and Mourier 10th best in the Midwest.

El Zanaty continued his good day by getting past Kay Bartmann at No. 2 singles, 6-4 & 7-6 (1). Finally, sophomore Georges Wakim (Egypt) was dominant in winning at No. 5 singles, 6-1 & 6-1.

On the women's side, UNK (17-5) couldn't get past the 33rd-ranked Panthers (16-2). Senior Paula Jimenez (Spain) and sophomore Emma Neil (Papillion) did win 8-3 at No. 3 doubles with sophomore Jadyn Trimble (Kearney H.S.) taking her No. 6 singles match by a 7-6 (5) & 6-0 score.

At No. 2 singles, junior lefty Sthefani Rodriguez almost upset regionally-ranked Lara Muller but fell in three sets, 3-6, 6-3 and 10-5.

The pairings for the MIAA tourney will be announced in the coming days.