Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska Kearney tennis teams went a combined 5-1 this weekend in duals against Metro State, Colorado Mesa and Colorado State-Pueblo.

The annual fall trip to Pueblo began Thursday afternoon against Metro and then finished up Friday against CMU and CSUP. These were the first duals of the 2017-18 season.

The women (3-0) rolled passed Metro, 6-3, Mesa, 9-0, and the host ThunderWolves, 8-1. The Loper men (2-1) also beat the Roadrunners, 6-3, and the Mavericks, 7-2, but fell to Pueblo, 5-4.

Four Loper women went unbeaten in singles in the duals. They were seniors Amanda Alvarez (Spain) and Emma Neil (Papillion), sophomore Ana Royo (Spain) and freshman Claire Neil (Papillion).

At number one, Roy blanked her counterpart from Pueblo (6-0, 6-0) but needed a third set to best CMU's Kristen Kirby (6-1, 3-6, 10-7). The elder Neil played at number two and three in the lineup and her toughest battle came against Metro's Alexa Pessoa (2-6, 6-2, 6-2). The younger Neil was welcomed to her first collegiate dual with a marathon match against the 'Runners Ainsley Winterrwod (7-6, 6-7, 14-12).

In doubles, the Lopers went a combined 8-1 with the Neil sisters blanking Pueblo and Alvarez and junior Camryn Parnell (Lee's Summit, Mo.) going 2-0 from the second spot in the lineup.

On the men's side, Kearney went 5-4 in doubles for the weekend, getting three W's from senior Joey Richards (Eden Prairie, Minn.) and freshman Alberto Diaz (Spain) at number two.

Junior newcomer Johnnie Carmichael (England) went 3-0 at number three singles, outlasting Pueblo's James Ryan (3-6, 7-5, 10-7) along the way. UNK wasn't as fortunate in two other singles matches (No. 5 and No. 6) against the T-Wolves as they won both in three sets. An injury at number five, when the Lopers were poised for a sweep, aided the Pueblo rally.

Finally, senior Aaron Reekie (Houston, Texas) was 3-0 at number four/five singles with his toughest match coming against Mesa's Alain De La Bastide (7-6, 6-4).

UNK heads to Springfield, Mo., for the annual ITA Regionals on Sept. 29-Oct. 3. The women have a road dual at Upper Iowa on Sept. 23rd.