LINCOLN, Neb. – Northeastern State opened its MIAA Tournament Championship defense with an explanation mark on Monday morning by throttling Missouri Western, 5-0, in the women's tennis quarterfinal.
 
The sweep was the third in a row for the top-seeded RiverHawks (16-4) and their seventh straight win.
 
Doubles play lasted under an hour with NSU going undefeated on court-three with Tatjana Stoll and Easton Parker wining 8-0. 
 
With the 3-0 lead into singles, the RiverHawks breezed through in its first set on all three courts with only one game being lost.   On the main court, Stoll was first to finish beating Missouri Western's Karolina Storm 6-0, 6-2, for her 14th singles win in a row.  Mayra Jovic was the overall match-clinching win on court-two, and won 6-1, 6-2 to remain undefeated this spring in 18 matches.
 
Molly Worden was up 6-0, 5-2 on court-three when the match halted.
 
Wednesday's win moves the RiverHawks to 10-0 all-time over the Griffons who will see their season end with a 10-12 record.
 
Northeastern State will return to the court on Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. for the Tournament Quarterfinals.