Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney tennis teams both beat the Rockhurst University Hawks,
9-0 (men) and
6-3 (women), Sunday in Grand Island.
The Loper men improve to 5-1 while the women are 6-0.
In the women's dual, UNK led 2-1 after doubles thanks to wins at number one and number and number three. The tandem of junior
Camryn Parnell (Lee's Summit, Mo.) and freshman
Claire Neil (Papillion) managed an 8-6 victory at No. 3
The Lopers dominated number 1-3 singles, taking each in straight sets. Newcomer
Zhanel Turarbek (Kazakhstan) won 6-3, 6-2 at the second spot after pairing with sophomore
Ana Royo (Spain) to win at number one doubles, 8-4. Finally,
Faith Kowalski (Kearney) tallied UNK's other point by winning in straight sets at number six singles.
The Loper men dominated the Hawks (2-1) in doubles, allowing just seven combined points. Things were much tighter in singles, however, as four of the six matches went three sets.
Senior
Aaron Reekie (Houston, Texas) and junior
Pepe Balado (Spain), at number six and number one, won in straight sets with newcomers
Alberto Diaz (Spain) and
Johnnie Carmichael (England) both winning their third set by 10-7 scores. At number three singles, senior
Joey Richards (Eden Prairie, Minn.) won 10-4 with freshman Sri
Aakash "Kash"
Reddiyar (Malaysia) taking his by a 10-6 count.
UNK heads to Springfield, Mo., next weekend to face Harding (Ark) and Drury (Mo.). The DU Panther women are 12th and men 13th, respectively, in the current national rankings.
