Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney women's tennis team fell to 17th-ranked Central Oklahoma, 8-1, Saturday afternoon in Edmond.

UCO, also the top team in the Central Region, improves to 9-1 (2-0) while UNK slips to 7-4 (0-2).

Already minus number singles and doubles player Ana Royo (Spain) due to injury, the Lopers saw her replacement Zhanel Turarbek have to retire. After losing the first set, 6-2, to 29th-ranked Ali Hodges, Turabek (Kazakhstan) was up 5-4 in the second set but couldn't continue. She and junior Camryn Parnell (Lee's Summit, Mo.) took over number doubles duties and lost 8-6 to the region's sixth ranked pair.

Finally, Papillion senior Emma Neil tallied UNK's lone point with a 6-4, 6-2 win at number five singles. In the dual season, she and Royo are tied for the team lead in single victories with seven.

The Lopers host Washburn (Friday) and Emporia State (Saturday) next weekend at Harmon Park.