Kearney, Neb. – Six-time defending national champion, top-ranked and top-seeded Barry (Fla.) University downed 15th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney, 4-0, in an Elite Eight match Tuesday night in Altamonte Springs, Fla. The Buccaneers (22-4) reach the Final Four once again while a historic Lopers season ends up at 21-6.
Earlier this year in Kearney and at the ITA Indoor Team National Championships, UNK took the doubles point from BU but eventually lost, 5-1. Today, both teams had different lineups with the Lopers having to play singles minus nationally ranked senior Jazmin Zamorano (Mexico). She retired due to injury after playing number three doubles, so everyone moved up in the lineup with junior Masha Hatouka (Belarus) stepping in at six.
In doubles, Barry allowed just four combined points. A two-hour rain delay followed with the Bucs sweeping five, six and two singles to clinch the dual. Becerra beat 38th-ranked Alina Michalistch, 6-3, in the second set at one with 45th-ranked Fabiana Gamboa doing the same in her second set, 6-1, at three. Finally, junior Alexis Bernthal (Boulder, Colo.) bounced back from a 6-0 loss in her first set at four to take the second, 6-3.
UNK won its first-ever MIAA regular season title this year, made the NCAA Tourney for the first time since 2018, reached the NCAA Sweet 16 for the first time in 12 years and reached the Elite Eight for the first time.
Season comes to an end for UNK tennis
