Results

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The No. 17-ranked Northeastern State women's tennis team defeated Nebraska-Kearney 5-1 in the finals of the 2015 NCAA Central Region 2 Championship Monday afternoon at the NSU Tennis Complex.
 
With the victory, the RiverHawks (20-5) advanced to the NCAA Championship Round of 16 and will face No. 13 St. Mary's. The national finals will be contested May 13-16 at the Surprise Tennis & Racquet Center in Surprise, Arizona.
 
Monday's triumph was the third this season over the Lopers, who saw their season come to a close with a 22-8 record. This is the second-straight year NSU has ended UNK's campaign.
 
The first decision came at No. 1 doubles, where the No. 10-ranked pair of juniors Kristina Savchenkov and Patricia Husakova defeated Emily Fink and Sthefani Rodriguez 8-2. Sophomore Valeriia Efimenko and freshman Molly Worden added a second point when they defeated Paula Jimenez and Kristin Weems 8-3 on the second court.
 
The Lopers picked up their lone point of the match at the No. 3 doubles flight as Kari Emery and Emma Neil defeated senior Barbora Jirickova and freshman Easton Parker 8-4.
 
The first singles point came at the No. 4 position when Efimenko topped Fink 6-2, 6-3.
 
Savchenkov, the nation's No. 36-ranked singles player, pushed NSU to the brink of victory following her 6-1, 6-2 triumph over Weems at the top of the order. Husakova, the No. 39-ranked singles player, clinched the match when she defeated Rodriguez 6-2, 6-2 from the second position.
 
The final three matches went unfinished.
 
Northeastern State has now reached the 20-win plateau for the third-straight year. The RiverHawks are also making their ninth trip to the NCAA Championship Round of 16 and their third in a row.
 
Tennis Match Results
May 04, 2015 at Tahlequah, Okla.
(NSU Tennis Complex)
 
#17 Northeastern State 5, Nebraska-Kearney 1
 
Singles Competition
1. #36 Kristina Savchenkov (NSU) def. Kristin Weems (UNK) 6-1, 6-2
2. #39 Patricia Husakova (NSU) def. Sthefani Rodriguez (UNK) 6-2, 6-2
3. Molly Worden (NSU) vs. Paula Jimenez (UNK) 6-2, 1-2, unfinished
4. Valeriia Efimenko (NSU) vs. Emily Fink (UNK) 6-2, 6-3
5. Barbora Jirickova (NSU) vs. Emma Neil (UNK) 3-6, 0-1, unfinished
6. Easton Parker (NSU) vs. Kari Emery (UNK) 1-6, 2-1, unfinished
 
Doubles Competition
1. #10 Kristina Savchenkov/Patricia Husakova (NSU) def. Emily Fink/Sthefani Rodriguez (UNK) 8-2
2. Valeriia Efimenko/Molly Worden (NSU) def. Paula Jimenez/Kristin Weems (UNK) 8-3
3. Kari Emery/Emma Neil (UNK) def. Barbora Jirickova/Easton Parker (NSU) 8-4
 
Match Notes:
Nebraska-Kearney 22-8
Northeastern State 20-5; National Ranking #17
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (4,1,2)
 
NORTHEASTERN STATE COACH AMANDA STONE
On bouncing back from a loss in the MIAA Championship finals...
"I think we responded well this weekend. We were a little down after losing at conference and we came out really strong yesterday, especially in doubles. Today, we looked good and took care of business. I think that's a testament to our maturity."
 
On advancing to the Round of 16
"Obviously we're really excited to be going for the third year in a row. We've been building up every year and I think that this team is talented enough to do something in the next round. We're definitely really young, but we've set a hard schedule this year and taken some losses, which I think has toughened us up. Our schedule has gotten us battle tested and I think if we stay confident and have everybody play up to their potential, we can go in and do some damage in Arizona."
 
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