Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney tennis teams split an MIAA dual at Washburn Wednesday night in Topeka, the women winning 5-4 and men losing 5-4.

The dual had to be moved indoors due to cold temperatures. The men began at 1:15 p.m. at the Genesis Wood Valley Club with the women starting at six and not wrapping up close to midnight. That dual was held at the Topeka C.C.

The Loper women (5-5, 1-2) came in ranked seventh in the latest ITA Central Region rankings with the Ichabods (6-3, 1-1) eighth.

Showing how close things were, two doubles matches were decided by 9-8 scores. UNK's number two team of Sthefani Rodriguez (Venezuela) and Sherry Sun (China) won by that score to give the Lopers a 2-1 lead. At number three, junior Emma Neil (Papillion) and Amanda Alvarez (Spain) pulled a rarity by shutting out their WU opponents, 8-0.

Washburn moved ahead 3-2 after winning in straight sets at number one and three singles. Freshman Ana Royo (Spain) won a close battle at number two (7-5, 7-6) over 20th-ranked Jacqueline Engelbrecht and then Neil rolled again at number four (6-0, 6-0) to put UNK close to the finish line.

Sophomore Camryn Parnell (Lee's Summit, Mo.) won 6-1, 6-2, at number five singles to wrap up the dual.

The 21st-ranked Loper men (6-3, 0-1) weren't as lucky as they lost at number six singles to fall to the 36th-ranked Ichabods (9-2, 1-1). In the latest ITA rankings, UNK is fourth in the Central and WU fifth.

UNK fell behind after doubles as WU's number three team of Chase Brill and Paul Haase managed a 9-7 victory. Returning from the disabled list, junior Joey Richards (Eden Prairie, Minn.) easily won his number five singles match (6-4, 6-2) to tie things up at two.

The next four singles matches all went to three sets with each squad winning twice. The victorious Lopers were senior Mohab El Zanaty (No. 3) and freshman Pepe Balado (No. 4). The dual thus came down to number six singles and Brill pulled out a 7-5, 6-1 win to give WU a key conference and regional win.

UNK heads to Emporia State Thursday afternoon. The Hornet men are ranked 10th in the Central.