Kearney, Neb. – Freshman Ana Royo won her 14th straight singles match to help Nebraska-Kearney hold off Northwest Missouri State, 5-3, late Tuesday night in an MIAA Tournament quarterfinal match in Lincoln.

The three-day event, featuring four men's and eight women's teams, is being held at the Sid and Hazel Dillon Tennis Center. Live results are available all week.

Fourth-seeded UNK (13-10) will face top-seed and 20th-ranked Northeastern State Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. in one semifinal match. The RiverHawks (16-5) swept Lindenwood, 5-0, on Tuesday morning. Second-seed Southwest Baptist and sixth-seed Washburn are on the other side of the bracket. 

During the regular season, Northwest (8-13) rallied from a 4-3 deficit to edge the Lopers in Harmon Park. In a 4.5 hour match tonight, the 'Cats almost did it again as they fell behind 3-1 before tying things up.

After a straight sets win by junior Amanda Alvarez at number three (6-4, 6-0), UNK led by two. The lead could've been four but Northwest won a number two doubles, 9-7.

The 'Cats got straight sets wins from Aniek Kolen (number two) and Margaux Jacquet (number five) to tie things up. Soon after, junior Emma Neil (Papillion) won a tight match at number four singles, 6-3 & 7-6. That pushes her season mark to 17-4.

At the same time, senior Sthefani Rodriguez stayed alive by rallying from a 6-5 hole to take her second set at number six singles, 7-6. She dropped the first by a 6-3 score.

Finally, Royo (Spain) had played her first 22 singles matches at the second spot in the order but was moved up to number one with this tournament. She was rolling (6-1, 4-0) before Lorena Rivas Jarolum reeled off six straight points to force a third set.

With Rodriguez trailing in her third set (4-3), Royo erased a 2-1 deficit and went on to win 6-3, making her 19-4 on the season.