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University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

UNK Athletics
5
Winner Nebraska Kearney UNKMEN (13-3)
4
Northwest Missouri NWMSU (7-8)
Winner
Nebraska Kearney UNKMEN
(13-3)
5
Final
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Northwest Missouri NWMSU
(7-8)
4
Nebraska Kearney UNKWOMEN (12-5)
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Winner Northwest Missouri NWMSU (8-8)
Nebraska Kearney UNKWOMEN
(12-5)
4
Final
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Northwest Missouri NWMSU
(8-8)
Winner

Match Recap: Men's Tennis |

#17 Men Finally Clip the Cats; #38 Women Fall 5-4

Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney tennis teams split a dual with Northwest Missouri State Wednesday night, the now 17th-ranked men winning 5-4 and the now 38th-ranked women falling 5-4.

The dual began at 2:30 in the afternoon in Maryville but the rains came with the men tied at three and Northwest women up 5-3. The teams took an hour off and drove down to St. Joseph to finish things inside. Action resumed at 8 p.m. and concluded around 10:30 p.m.

Earlier in the day, the latest ITA (Intercollegiate Tennis Association) national rankings were released and the Loper men (13-3, 3-0) moved up a spot while the women (12-5, 2-3) moved down one.

No squad has given the Loper men more fits then the
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Aaron Reekie made a triumphant return
47th-ranked Bearcats (7-7, 0-2). Northwest had beaten UNK 13 times over the last eight years including wins in the 2015 and 2017 NCAA Tournaments.

The 'Cats led 2-1 after doubles as they won 8-5 at the top spot at 8-6 at number two. Senior Aaron Reekie (Houston), coming off the disabled list, and junior Johnnie Carmichael (England) managed an 8-6 win at number three.

Not surprisingly, three of the six singles matches went three sets. At the time of the rain, UNK freshman Dias Meiirbek (Kazakhstan) was down 1-0 in his number four match but came back to win 2-6, 6-2, 6-3. The 'Cats had already grabbed a 4-3 lead in the dual as Rahul Manoah got past Pepe Balado (Spain) at number two; 6-7, 6-3, 6-4. Both are ranked in the Central Region.

For a second straight dual, things came down to freshman Alberto Diaz (Spain) at number six. He was up 4-2 in the first set when the rain came. He went on to win, 6-2, but Youssef Sheriff fought off a couple of match points to take the second set, 7-5.

Finally, the long day ended when Diaz held serve, fought off some cramps and took the final set by a 6-3 score. This is believed to be UNK's first-ever win over Northwest.

On the women's side, Kearney led 2-1 after doubles as junior Sherry Sun (China) and freshman Claire Neil (Papillion) managed a 9-8 win at number three. Senior Emma Neil (Papillion) and junior Camryn Parnell (Lee's Summit, Mo.) already had won 8-5 a spot higher in the order.

However, 42nd-ranked Northwest (8-8, 3-1) took four of the six singles matches, all in straight sets, to win. The Lopers did get wins by Sun (7-5, 2-6, 6-2) at number thee and Emma Neil at number four (6-1, 6-1).

The women remain on the road this weekend to face Missouri Western State and Fort Hays State. The men are off until a home match next Wednesday vs. Seward County (Kan.) C.C.
 
 
 
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