Kearney, Neb. – The 40th-ranked Northwest Missouri State Bearcats beat Nebraska Kearney, 4-0, in a tournament quarterfinal match Wednesday evening in Springfield, Mo.
The Central Region's fourth-ranked squad and the third seed in this six-team tournament, Northwest (17-4) advances to Saturday's semifinals vs. 17th-ranked Washburn.
The Lopers (10-11) were a bit short-handed today as Lithuanian freshman Patricija Cechanaviciute suffered a season-ending injury last Saturday. She's recently been playing No. 1 doubles and No. 2 singles.
Junior Julia Wartecka (Poland) and freshman Valentina Zamora (Bolivia) won 6-3 at one doubles, the pair playing together for just the fourth time this dual season. The Bearcats won at three (-1) with senior Clare Plachy (Lincoln Pius) and junior Fabiana Gamboa (Venezuela) losing by a 7-6 (-3) count. They rallied from a 4-2 deficit, but Northwest pulled away in the end.
The Bearcats swept two, five and six singles to clinch. Gamboa was about to win in the top spot over regionally ranked Miru Nonaka (4-6, -1, 5-2), with Zamora in a third set at four. Finally, Plachy took her second set at three (-5). She is the only senior on this year's squad and was a five-year team member with more than 100 career combined wins.
Nebraska Kearney returns to the courts in September.
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