Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska Kearney tennis team began its 2017-18 season this past weekend at the 4th Annual Emporia State Invitational.

The non-team scoring tournament featured several singles and doubles draws. The Lopers finished with 20 combined wins and placed in several draws. Other schools in attendance were the host Hornets, Newman, Northwest Missouri State and Division I Missouri-Kansas City.

In doubles, senior Emma Neil (Papillion) and sophomore Ana Royo (Spain) finished runner up in the women's No. 1 draw. They beat a pair from Newman, 8-6, to reach the finals.
Also coming in second was junior Camryn Parnell (Lee's Summit, Mo.) and freshman Faith Kowalski (Kearney). They beat a duo from Emporia, 8-6, to reach the No. 3 finals.

Going 1-1 and finishing third were senior Joey Richards (Eden Prairie, Minn.) and junior newcomer Johnnie Carmichael (England) at No. 1 men's doubles and junior Sherry Sun (China) and freshman Claire Neil (Papillion) at No. 4 women's doubles.

Senior Amanda Alvarez (Spain) won the women's No. 3-4 singles bracket, going 3-0. She beat NW's Irene Recuenco in straight sets (6-0, 6-3) to place first. Next, Kowalski rebounded from an opening round loss to win two straight and finish third at No. 5-6 singles. Her victories came by scores of 8-6 and 9-7.

Finally, coming in fourth place were Sun (No. 1-2), Parnell (No. 7-8) and Spanish senior Raul Rodriguez (No. 7-8).

UNK has its annual fall trip to Colorado next weekend (Sept. 14-15) to face three former RMAC rivals in duals.