Lopers Battle D1 Competition in Des Moines

Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska Kearney women's tennis team racked up 17 wins this past week at the Drake Invitational in Des Moines.

The three-day event featured the Bulldogs, Nebraska Omaha, Northern Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Creighton and Augustana. There were three singles and two doubles brackets with each player/team getting at least two matches. Loper Tennis

In doubles, juniors Melisa Becerra (Colombia) and Jazmin Zamorano (Mexico) came in third in the "A" draw thanks to wins over UNO (8-5) and UNI (7-6; 11-9). Next, sophomore Narindra Ranaivo (Madagascar) and Masha Hatouka (Belarus) placed fourth in the "B" draw. They had an 8-5 win against Creighton. Finally, sophomores Clare Plachy (Lincoln Pius) and Alexis Bernthal (Boulder, Colo.) won the "C" draw consolation round. They earned wins over the Bluejays (8-6) and UND (8-3).

Zamorano (A draw), Bernthal and Ranaivo (B) and Plachy and Hatouka (C) each won twice in singles. Zamorano bested Drake sophomore Ines Stephani (7-5, 6-4) who led the Bulldogs in singles wins last season with Ranaivo beating Creighton grad transfer Leanne Kendall (6-3, 6-4). Kendall won 74 matches at D1 Bryant (R.I.) the past four years. Finally, Plachy rallied past DU's Yana Gaskell (2-6, 6-1, 10-8) to reach the semis.

UNK heads to Colorado this weekend to face CSU-Pueblo, Texas-Permian Basin and Lubbock (Texas) Christian.

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Players Mentioned

Melisa Becerra: Junior

Alexis Bernthal: Sophomore

Masha Hatouka: Sophomore

Clare Plachy: Sophomore

Narindra Ranaivo: Sophomore

Jazmin Zamorano: Junior

Players Mentioned

Melisa Becerra
: Junior

Alexis Bernthal
: Sophomore

Masha Hatouka
: Sophomore

Clare Plachy
: Sophomore

Narindra Ranaivo
: Sophomore

Jazmin Zamorano
: Junior