April 25, 2008

Women's Tennis in RMAC Final Four

Lopers Beat Roadrunners

       Kearney, Neb. – The fourth-seeded Nebraska-Kearney women's tennis team advanced to the semifinals of the 2008 RMAC Tournament by beating fifth-seed Metro State, 5-1, Friday morning at the Buffalo County Fairgrounds.

      Due to poor weather, the tournament today had to be moved inside. Weather permitting, the tournament will move back outside on Saturday with all the action being played at the Harmon/Sertoma courts.

      Against the Roadrunners, the Lopers (11-10) won all three doubles matches to get out to a 3-0 lead. Kearney sophomore Kristen Messbarger returned from injury to pair up with sophomore Mary Outhwaite (W. Australia) to win at the No. 1 spot, 8-4.

      Messbarger was leading her No. 2 singles match 1-0 before retiring due to that nagging ailment. She should be ready to play the semifinals.

      Straight set singles victories by Outhwaite (No. 1) and Holdrege sophomore Marcelle Strydom (No. 3) secured the dual win.

       Tomorrow, UNK will face top-seed Montana State-Billings (6-3) at 2:00 p.m. The top-seeded Loper men will also play at 2:00 p.m. and face fourth-seed Mesa State (12-9).

      Both Western New Mexico squads are still alive and each will play at 10:00 a.m. The sixth-seeded Mustang women (4-14) will battle second-seed Mesa State (13-9) while the third-seeded Western men (8-13) will play second-seed Metro State (14-6).