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University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

4
Winner Central Oklahoma UCO (12-6)
2
Nebraska Kearney UNK-W (18-5)
Winner
Central Oklahoma UCO
(12-6)
4
Final
2
Nebraska Kearney UNK-W
(18-5)
Alexis Bernthal
Erika Pritchard, UNK Communications

Match Recap: Women's Tennis |

'Chos Nip the Lopers in MIAA Semis; NCAA Selections Monday Night

Kearney, Neb. – The Central Oklahoma Bronchos won close matches at three doubles and five singles to down 22nd-ranked Nebraska Kearney, 4-2, in the MIAA Tournament semifinals Saturday afternoon in Springfield, Mo.

The Lopers (18-5) beat the Bronchos in the final regular season dual, 5-2 and thus won a three-way tie breaker to earn the top seed in the six-team event. UCO (12-6) hung on for a 4-3 win over Emporia State in a Friday quarterfinal dual to advance.

Last weekend in Edmond, UNK won the doubles point thanks to wins at two and three. The tables were turned this time around as the Lopers won at one and the 'Chos at two, 7-5, and three, 7-6 (7-5). The team point came down to three where Hui Yii Soo and Karina Yurchenko got out to a 3-0 lead, only to see Clare Plachy (Lincoln Pius) and Fabiana Gamboa (Venezuela) tie things up at five and six. However, the 'Chos scored five of the first points in the tiebreaker.  

In singles, 26th-ranked ranked Komada won in straight sets at one with Anika Ouwejan doing the same at four. She lost in straight sets last weekend. To clinch the dual, Yurchenko out lasted senior Masha Hatouka (Belarus) at five; 2-6, -1, -6 (7-5). Yurchenko trailed 3-1 in the third set but tied things up and then scored the first four points in the tie break. Last weekend in Edmond, she won this match in straight sets. The Lopers points were scored by Plachy at six (-3, -2) and senior Alexis Bernthal (Boulder, Colo.) at two (-1, -0).

The NCAA Division II Tournament field will be announced Monday at 7:30 p.m. Central and UNK is in good shape to make the Central Regional for a 13th time. They'll likely be a three or four seed in a six-team regional; the top two seeds host three-team events May 12-13.
 
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