Kearney, Neb. – The Drury University Panthers swept the Nebraska-Kearney tennis teams, 6-3 (men) and 8-1 (women), early Saturday morning in Springfield, Mo.

The duals began 8:00 p.m. Friday night and wrapped up around midnight Saturday. With the setbacks, the 20th-ranked Loper men fall to -2 while the regionally-ranked UNK women are now 3-3.

A member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC), the Drury men came in ranked 35th nationally and improve to 7-1. They won five of the six singles matches to rally from a 2-1 hole.

UNK grabbed the lead thanks to a 9-8 victory by the No. 3 doubles team of senior Mohab El Zanaty (Egypt) and sophomore Alvaro Arias (Spain). A spot higher in the lineup, senior Justin Nguyen (Louisville, Colo.) and junior Georges Wakim (Egypt) won by an 8-5 score.

El Zanaty won in three sets (3-6, 7-6, 10-2) at No. 3 singles but that would be the lone point the Lopers grabbed in singles. Sophomore Pepe Balado (Spain) did lose in three sets at No. 4 singles (7-6, 1-6, 5-10).

On the women's side, 20th-ranked DU improved to 8-0 by winning all three doubles matches and taking five singles matches. One of the singles wins came by forfeit.

The Lopers scored at least four points in all three doubles matches but couldn't manage a win. Papillion junior Emma Neil did get UNK on the board with a hard fought win at No. 4 singles (5-7, 6-4, 10-7). Finally, freshman Ana Royo (Spain) lost in three sets at No. 2 singles (2-6, 6-3, 10-8).

On Saturday, UNK remains in Springfield to face the Harding Bison.