LINCOLN, Neb. – Northeastern State rolled past Lindenwood, 5-0, in the opening round of the MIAA Tournament on early Tuesday morning.
 
NSU's match was delayed for 30 minutes and moved to the indoor section of the University of Nebraska tennis courts where the tournament is held this year.    The RiverHawks remained a perfect 5-0 in the MIAA Tournament Quarterfinal and it pushed their winning streak to 11.
 
In doubles, NSU launched into a blazing start on Lindenwood and took 11 straight games on all three courts.   Molly Worden and Valeriia Efimenko were off the court first in the top spot with an 8-1 win for the pair's tenth victory in a row.  Betka Gombarova and Karla Tomaic came off the court shortly for NSU's second point with a clean 8-0 sweep. 
 
The closest battle of the day came on court-2 with Caitlin McCullough and Easton Parker winning the final three games to seal NSU's doubles sweep with an 8-5 win.
 
With momentum on NSU's way, singles were tilted heavily toward the RiverHawks with Efimenko only dropping two games in a 6-0, 6-2 win on court-2; McCullough was perfect on court-3 with a 6-0, 6-0 sweep. 
 
Worden was on court-1 leading 6-2, 1-0 when the match was clinched.
 
Northeastern State climbs to 16-5 overall, while Lindenwood's season ends at 9-14.  
 
The RiverHawks will return to the court on Wednesday at 6 p.m. to face either Northwest Missouri or Nebraska-Kearney.
 
Tennis Match Results
Lindenwood University vs. Northeastern State
Apr 18, 2017 at Lincoln, Neb.
(Dillon Tennis Center)
 
#20 Northeastern State 5, Lindenwood University 0
 
Singles competition
1. Worden,Molly (NSU) vs. Barbasheva,Anna (LWU) 6-2, 1-0, unfinished
2. Efimenko,Valeriia (NSU) def. Hamed,Haya (LWU) 6-0, 6-2
3. McCullough,Caitlin (NSU) def. Piccamiglio,Clara (LWU) 6-0, 6-0
4. Tomaic,Karla (NSU) vs. Castro,Diana (LWU) 0-0, 0-0, unfinished
5. Parker,Easton (NSU) vs. Aguilar,Rebeca (LWU) 0-0, 0-0, unfinished
6. Gombarova,Betka (NSU) vs. McCarthy,Alexis (LWU) 0-0, 0-0, unfinished
 
Doubles competition
1. Worden,Molly/Efimenko,Valeriia (NSU) def. Piccamiglio,Clara/Castro,Diana (LWU) 8-1
2. McCullough,Caitlin/Parker,Easton (NSU) def. Aguilar,Rebeca/Barbasheva,Anna (LWU) 8-5
3. Tomaic,Karla/Gombarova,Betka (NSU) def. McCarthy,Alexis/Hamed,Haya (LWU) 8-0
 
Match Notes:
Lindenwood University 9-14
Northeastern State 16-5; National ranking #20; Regional ranking #1
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (2,3)