Kearney, Neb. – The nationally-ranked Southwest Baptist Bearcats tennis teams both edged Nebraska-Kearney,
5-4 (women) and
6-3 (men), Friday evening in Bolivar, Mo.
The 16th-ranked SBU women improve to 15-2 (7-1) while the 20th-ranked Baptist men are now 10-2 (4-1).
Ranked fifth in the first edition of the NCAA Central Region rankings, the Loper women (9-9, 4-4) were looking to pull off a big upset. They trailed 2-1 after suffering a pair of 8-4 losses at number one and two doubles.
Per usual, Papillion junior
Emma Neil won her singles match, this time from the third spot in the order. She rallied past Lucia Diaz (2-6, 7-6, 6-2) to record her team-best 14
th win of the year.
Missouri sophomore
Camryn Parnell won in straight sets at number six singles (6-2, 6-3) but SBU took the other four matches. That included a three-set win by Klara Vikov at number four.
On the men's side, SBU also led 2-1 after doubles. The 'Cats tandem of Torben Semrau and Raul Cabalero won 9-8 at number three to record a key point.
Three of the singles matches would go three sets with SBU unfortunately winning all three (number one, three and six). Sophomore
Alvaro Arias (Spain) did won a tough number four match over Cabalero (6-4, 7-6).
Finally, sophomore
Pepe Balado (Spain) won in straight sets at number two (6-4, 6-2) to record his sixth win. The 29th-ranked Lopers are now 7-8 (0-4) on the season.
UNK faces NAIA power William Woods on Saturday.
