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University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

UNK Athletics
5
Winner Nebraska Kearney UNKWOMEN (16-7)
2
Southwest Baptist SBU (14-5)
Winner
Nebraska Kearney UNKWOMEN
(16-7)
5
Final
2
Southwest Baptist SBU
(14-5)

Match Recap: Women's Tennis |

NCAA Upset! Lopers Shock SBU, Face UCO Sunday

Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney women's tennis team stunned 16th-ranked Southwest Baptist, 5-2, in an NCAA Tournament first round match Saturday afternoon in Edmond, Okla.

The Lopers (16-7) will face ninth-ranked Central Oklahoma (18-3) on Sunday at noon with the winner advancing to the NCAA "Sweet 16" in Surprise, Ariz., May 8-11. The Bronchos handed UNK an 8-1 loss back in March in Edmond. Live stats will be available. 

To record the program's sixth all-time NCAA tourney win, the sixth-seeded Lopers needed to pull off one of the biggest upsets in school history. UNK had never beaten the third-seeded Bearcats (14-5) before, falling this year by scores of 8-1 (regular season) and 5-2 (MIAA Tournament). UNK faced SBU, a perennial national power, in the regular season finale and in the first round of the MIAA's.

In doubles, the key match came at number two where senior Amanda Alvarez (Spain) and freshman Zhanel Turarbek (Kazakhstan) got out to a 7-4 lead before SBU rallied to tie things at eight. Falling last week by an 8-4 score to this same SBU pair, Alvarez and Turarbek won 9-8 (2) to give UNK a 2-1 lead in the match. 

Earlier, senior Emma Neil (Papillion) and junior Camryn Parnell (Lee's Summit, Mo.) won at number three, 8-6. They also led 7-4 at one point and beat SBU for a second straight time.

The 'Cats tied things up with a straight set win at number four singles but freshman Claire Neil (Papillion) did the same at number six (6-1, 6-4) to give UNK the lead for good. In the top spot, sophomore Ana Royo (Spain) shocked Jill Van den Dungen in straight sets (6-3, 6-4) to move the Lopers one step closer.

Van den Dugen came in ranked 20th nationally and with a 13-4 record. Royo is 53rd in singles but has missed most of the spring due to injury. Last week at UNL Van den Dugen beat Royo in straight sets (6-3, 6-2).

Finally, Turarbek also turned the tables as she swept Klara Vickov to record the clinching point. Losing last week in straight sets, Turarbek won in straight sets (7-5, 6-4) this time around. In the unfinished matches, both Neil (4-6, 6-2, 3-2) and Alvarez (1-6, 6-2, 4-3) were ahead in the third set.
 
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