Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney tennis teams split an MIAA dual at Emporia State Thursday afternoon, the women winning 7-2 and men losing 5-4.

The Loper women are now 6-5 (2-2 MIAA) while the 21st-ranked men slip to 6-4 (0-2 MIAA).

The momentum in the women's dual changed when UNK's number three doubles team of juniors Emma Neil (Papillion) and Amanda Alvarez (Spain) rallied from a 7-1 hole to win 9-7. That gave the Lopers a 2-1 lead and they dominated from there.

Missouri sophomore Camryn Parnell made it 3-1 after a quick 6-1, 6-0 win at number five singles. Spanish freshman Ana Royo moved UNK one point closer with a 6-1, 6-3 decision at number two singles and then Venezuelan senior southpaw Sthefani Rodriguez knocked out the Hornets (2-1, 0-1) with a 6-3, 6-1 from the sixth spot.

The Kearney men weren't so lucky, suffering a second straight 5-4 loss. E-State (7-0, 1-0), ranked 10th in the region, led 2-1 after doubles and then won three of the first four singles matches.

In doubles, Patrick Cameron and Matheus Mota managed a 9-7 win from the top spot with Mota then winning 7-5, 6-3 at number four singles to secure the dual. Egyptian senior Mohab El Zanaty (3-6, 6-3, 6-1) and Colorado senior Justin Nguyen (7-5, 3-6, 6-3) did win at number three and six singles, respectively, to close out the afternoon.

UNK heads to Georgia for its annual "Spring Break" trip, facing national powers Columbus State and Valdosta State on Sunday and Monday