Kearney, Neb. – Senior Kari Emery won at No. 6 singles to help Nebraska-Kearney upset 49th-ranked NW Missouri State, 5-4, in an NCAA Tournament match Sunday afternoon in Tahlequah, Okla.
 
The sixth-seeded Lopers (22-7) will face either top-seed and No. 17 Northeastern State or seventh-seed Augustana Monday at 10:00 a.m. The winner advances to the NCAA "Sweet 16" in Arizona.
 
UNK had dropped two close matches to the Bearcats (21-8) this season, falling 5-4 on April 17th in Maryville and 5-3 in the MIAA Tournament third place match on April 26^th in Springfield, Mo.
 
For a third straight time against Northwest, the Lopers grabbed a 2-1 lead as junior Paula Jimenez (Spain) and senior Kristin Weems (Arlington, Texas) rolled 8-1 in No. 2 doubles and then Emery (Tucson, Ariz.) and freshman Emma Neil (Papillion) won 8-4 in the third position.
 
Northwest responded by winning at No. 1 and 2 singles, something they did in the previous duals with UNK.
 
Neil moved to 2-0 against Stephanie Mannix on the year as she tied things at three thanks to a 7-6 (0), 6-0 win at No. 5 singles. Jimenez then won the rubber match with Margaux Jaquet at No. 3 singles, coming out on top 7-6 (4),6-2. Last weekend, Jaquet beat Jimenez in straight sets, 6-4, 7-5.
 
For a second straight time, sophomore Emily Fink (Elkhorn South H.S.) lost a tough match at No. 4 singles to Aniek Kolen, 7-5, 7-6 (6).
 
That left things up to Emery, who lost the first set to Marianne Hull by a 7-5 score. To beat Hull for a second time this season, Emery took the final two sets in style, 6-1, 6-3.
 
UNK didn't play Augie this year but went 0-2 vs. NSU.