HAYS, Kan. – NSU won its sixth-straight MIAA opener downing Fort Hays State 7-0 Saturday afternoon.
 
The season was cut short in 2020 a week before conference play was due to open and Northeastern State was ready to prove themselves in Kansas.
 
The RiverHawks cruised through doubles winning each court handily and sweeping the No. 3 flight.
 
In singles, NSU won in straight sets needing just one tiebreaker on court No. 3 where Chiara Carnelutti won 6-0, 7-6.
 
Northeastern State took the bottom three courts quickly and dropped just five games as a collective group.
 
On the top two courts, NSU had to battle a bit. Kristela Vidnere claimed her first win of the season at the top of the lineup 6-4, 6-4, while Maria Popova continued her clutch play on court No. 2 winning 6-2, 6-4.
 
"We're sitting at 1-0 in the MIAA and will be back tomorrow grinding," head coach Tim McLane said.
 
Northeastern State now has three players with winning records this spring in Popova, Melissa Vera and Vera Carvalho.
 
The RiverHawks improve to 5-4 (1-0 in MIAA) and will meet Nebraska Kearney at 11 a.m. Sunday .