Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska Kearney women's tennis team had 19 wins at the annual ITA Central Regional this past weekend in Edmond, Okla.

The winners of the singles and doubles draws automatically advance to the ITA Cup next month in Georgia. The rest of the Cup field is at-large and selected by a committee. 

Senior Narindra Ranaivo (Madagascar) and sophomore Fabiana Gamboa (Venezuela) both reached the singles semifinals, going 4-0 along the way. Unfortunately, both lost in three sets; Gamboa (4-6, 6-2, 6-2) and Ranaivo (6-3, 2-6, 7-5). Ranaivo managed a tough win in third round (1-6, 6-4, 10-7) with Gamboa taking three matches in straight sets and the other when her opponent retired due injury.

Next, redshirt junior Clare Plachy (Lincoln Pius) and sophomore Julia Watecka (Poland) both two matches in the "B" flight with senior Masha Hatouka (Belarus) and Alexis Bernthal (Boulder, Colo.) the most successful Lopers doubles pairing. They went 3-1 which included a 9-7 decision in their first consolation match.

The men's ITA Regionals will be in Topeka this weekend (Sept. 27-29) with the Lopers then facing some Division I teams in October.