Kearney, Neb. – The pairings for the 2016 MIAA Tennis Tournament scheduled for this weekend in Springfield, Mo., have been released.
 
The 21st-ranked Loper men (19-2) are the third seed and will face 16th-ranked and No. 2 seed Northwest Missouri State (17-3) Saturday at 9:00 a.m. Earlier this year at Harmon Park, the Bearcats downed the Lopers, 6-3.
 
The men's title match is set for Sunday at 9:00 a.m. The other half of the bracket pits 31st-ranked and top-seed Southwest Baptist against four seed Lindenwood.
 
On the women's side, UNK (17-5) is the third-seed as well and will play sixth-seed Missouri Western State (10-5) Friday at noon. The Lopers handed the Griffons a 7-2 setback in St. Joseph in late March.
 
With another win over Mo Western, the Lopers would see either 11th-ranked and No. 2 seed Southwest Baptist or seven-seed Lindenwood Saturday at noon. The title match will be Sunday at noon.
 
The tournament, held at the Cooper Tennis Complex, will not feature consolation or third place matches this year.