Kearney, Neb. – The 20th-ranked Northeastern State RiverHawks won 9-8 at number one and three doubles to beat Nebraska-Kearney,
5-1, in an MIAA Tournament semifinal dual Wednesday night in Lincoln.
The
three-day MIAA tourney is being hosted at UNL's Sid and Hazel Dillon Tennis Center. Thursday's championship duals between NSU and Southwest Baptist (women) and Northwest Missouri State and Washburn (men) will begin at 9:00 a.m.
Despite the setback, the fourth-seeded Lopers (13-11) are likely headed to the NCAA Tournament. Pairings for regional play will be announced on
April 25th at 7:00 pm. Central. UNK has been fifth in the past two
region rankings and seven teams from the Central qualify. Play for the women will be May 1st and 2nd.
NSU (17-5) has been an absolute thorn in the side of the Lopers, winning all eight duals between the two since the pair joined the MIAA in 2013. That includes RiverHawk wins in the 2014 and 2015 NCAA tourneys.
Earlier this year at Harmon Park, UNK lost to NSU by a 5-4 score despite sweeping number four through six singles in straight sets. Due to weather in Lincoln, tonight's dual was moved inside the Dillon; that meant one through three singles were completed before the others began.
In doubles, UNK led at number one and three in the early going but both teams eventually fell behind 8-7. The Lopers rallied to tie things at eight and force a tie break. Having already won at number two doubles by an 8-2 score, NSU saw the 20th-ranked pair of Molly Worden and Val Efimenko win the number one tie break by a 7-3 count.
Soon after, juniors
Amanda Alvarez (Spain) and
Emma Neil (Papillion) tied their number three doubles tie break at six. However, NSU's Karla Tomaic and Betka Gombarova managed to win a long rally and went on to win 9-8 (8-6).
Freshman sensation
Ana Royo (Spain) put Kearney on the board with a hard fought win over the 30th-ranked Worden at number one singles (6-2, 6-2). That marked her 15th straight singles victory, 13 of which have come in straight sets.
The 'Hawks, however, clinched thanks to straight set wins at number two and three singles. At the time of the clinch, Neil was ahead at four singles (6-1, 1-0) and sophomore
Camryn Parnell was ahead at number five singles (1-0).
