Kearney, Neb. – The Southeastern Oklahoma State Savage Storm won four singles matches to rally past Nebraska-Kearney,
5-4, Sunday evening an NCAA Tournament match in Tahlequah, Okla.
The fifth seed in the Central Region, UNK ends the year with an 18-7 record. Fourth-seeded SEOSU (14-3) advances to take on 11th-ranked and top seed Northeastern State on Monday.
The dual began at 10:00 a.m. but was halted close to 11:00 a.m. due to a lightening delay. Action didn't resume until 2:00 p.m. and at the end of all three doubles matches.
In the NCAA's for a third straight season and for the ninth time in school history, UNK found itself in familiar position as it led 2-1 after doubles.
Finishing the year 55-20 in doubles, the Lopers saw junior
Sthefani Rodriguez (Venezuela) and freshman Sherry Sun (China) win 8-5 in the second spot with senior
Paula Jimenez (Spain) and sophomore
Emma Neil (Papillion) edging their Savage Storm pair, 8-6, at number three.
SEOSU did tally the first point of the match with an 8-4 win at No. 1 doubles.
Capping her three-year Loper career in style, Jimenez won her No. 3 singles match in straight sets, 6-0 & 6-1, to give UNK a 3-1 lead. While the Storm won by nearly the same count at No. 2 singles, the Lopers reached match point after a 6-1, 6-3 victory by Neil in the fourth spot in the order.
Neil (20-3) and Jimenez (19-6) were Kearney's top two singles players by record this year.
Regionally-ranked Anna Buiukian won in straight sets at No. 1 singles and then SEOSU tied things up at four after a 6-0, 7-5 win by junior Conci Assiego at No. 6 singles. Kearney sophomore
Jadyn Trimble did hold a brief lead in the second set but Assiego rallied.
Thus, the dual came down to No. 5 singles where Central Oklahoma transfer and Latvian senior IIga Racika-Racko won the first set over Missouri freshman
Camryn Parnell, 6-1. Parnell rolled in the second set, 6-2, but Racika-Racko bounced back in the third, 6-2.
Last year, UNK beat NW Missouri State, 5-4, on this same court to advance in the regional. The Lopers are now 5-9 all-time in the NCAA's.
Jimenez was the lone senior on Kearney's seven-player women's squad.
