Kearney, Neb. – The 22nd-ranked Nebraska Kearney women's tennis team won four singles matches in straight sets to upset 14th-ranked Washburn, 4-2, in an NCAA Central Regional second round match Tuesday in Topeka.
The third seeded Lopers (20-5), who beat Central Oklahoma on Monday, advance to the "Sweet 16" in Altamonte Springs, Fla., for a second consecutive season. They'll play an opponent to be determined on May 21 (Wednesday) with duals held every day until the National Championship May 25. UNK now has 11 all-time NCAA wins with the 2008 and 2009 Loper squads having back-to-back Sweet 16 trips as well. Last year, the Lopers reached the Elite 8 for the first time behind seniors Melisa Becerra and Jazmin Zamorano.
Earlier this year at the Ernest Grundy Tennis Center, Washburn (17-4) beat UNK by a 4-3 score as they took the doubles point and then won in straight sets at one, three and five singles. Today, they again won doubles but almost had a completely new singles lineup.
The Lopers, who lost 6-3 and 6-2 at one and two doubles, fell behind 2-1 after a 7-6 (5), 6-1 loss at five singles. However, UNK won the first set in the other five matches to be in good shape.
Lincoln redshirt junior Clare Plachy notched the first team point at six (-3, -4), Colorado senior Alexis Bernthal rolled at four (-2, -4) with Zimbabwe sophomore Tanya Midzi almost winning at the same time at three (-3, -5). Finally, Madagascar senior Narindra Ranaivo closed the door on the 'Bods with a 6-3, 6-2 decision at two. She is up to 178 combined wins, most in school history. At one, 13th-ranked Fabiana Gamboa won the first set over 19th-ranked Renske Ubachs with that match going unfinished.
UNK's starting lineup is up to 651 career combined wins with Ranaivo, Bernthal and Hatouka all in the Top 11.