UNK Tennis Takes Down D1 Niagara in Florida

ORLANDO, FL – The now 36th-ranked Nebraska Kearney tennis team swept doubles and won a couple of third set tie breakers to down the Division I Niagara (N.Y.) University Purple Eagles, 5-2, Thursday night in Orlando, Fla.

The Lopers (9-7) had seen duals against Rollins College and Palm Beach Atlantic rained out during their “Spring Break” trip so this dual was added to the schedule. Earlier on Thursday, NU (3-9) was swept by Farleigh Dickinson (N.J.) at the U.S. Tennis Association National Campus.

UNK allowed just three total points to dominate doubles. The Lopers then saw both Colorado sophomore Alexis Bernthal (No. 4) and Mexican junior lefty Jazmin Zamorano (No. 2) win in straight sets with junior Melisa Becerra (No. 1) and sophomore Narindra Ranaivo (No. 3) having to work overtime.

Both Becerra (Colombia) and Ranaivo (Madagascar) won their first sets before taking tie-breaking third sets by identical 10-8 scores. Ranaivo was down 8-5 at one junction before reeling off five straight to provide the clinching point in the dual.

Weather permitting, UNK faces No. 29 Florida Southern (10-2) Friday at 2 p.m. Central in Lakeland.