Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney women’s tennis team took the doubles point and battled in six singles matches but fell to six-time defending national champion and number one ranked Barry (Fla.) University, 5-1, Friday night at the Ernest Grundy Tennis Center.
This was day one of the 2024 ITA National Women’s Team Indoor Championships. With tonight’s result, the Lopers (4-1) move over to the consolation bracket and face fourth-ranked Flagler (Fla.) College Saturday at 2:30 p.m. The BU Buccaneers, meanwhile, advance to the semifinals to take on seventh-ranked West Alabama.
Facing BU (6-1) for a second straight year in this tourney, UNK had another good showing in front of a large and boisterous crowd. The Blue & Gold even took a 1-0 lead on the scoreboard as they won at two and three doubles and were ahead in the top spot.
Senior Melisa Becerra (Colombia) and junior Narindra Ranaivo (Madagascar) won 6-3 at two with freshman Fabiana Gamboa (Venezuela) and senior lefty Jazmin Zamorano (Mexico) securing the team point with a 6-4 decision. This marks career win number 100 for Becerra with Zamorano now up to 111. The tally includes both duals and fall tournaments.
Ranaivo took her first set, 6-2, at number two singles but Russian junior Dinara Alloiarova came back to the next two (6-2, 6-3) and earn BU’s fifth team point. Seconds before, Colorado junior Alexis Bernthal fell at number six, 6-3 and 7-5, to Argentina junior Maia Hamuller. Bernthal had rallied from a 5-3 deficit to keep UNK’s hopes alive.
Earlier in singles, the Bucs won in straight sets at one, five and three. Becerra was locked in a tough battle at four (4-6, 5-6,) when that match was stopped.
On the other side of the bracket, Nova Southeastern (Fla.) swept Wayne State of Michigan, 4-0, and St. Leo rallied past Columbus State of Georgia, 4-3.
