Story by UNK Athletic Communications
Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska Kearney women’s tennis team is ranked ninth in the final Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Division II rankings for the 2023-24 season.
Going 21-6, winning the MIAA regular season title and reaching the NCAA Elite Eight, the Lopers garnered 48.99 points in the ITA rating system. Flagler (Fla.) College, who UNK beat in February by a 4-2 score, is ranked eighth with 53.06 points.
This is the highest-ever ranking for Loper women’s tennis team. They were in the national rankings for most of the spring season, reaching a high of 15th on Feb. 28 and May 1.
Individually, senior Jazmin Zamorano (Mexico) is 40th in singles with MIAA Freshman of the Year Fabiana Gamboa (Venezuela) 45th. Zamorano went 23-12, winning the Central Region singles title in the fall with Gamboa’s first year resulting in a 16-8 dual record. Next, senior Melisa Becerra (Colombia) and junior Narindra Ranaivo (Madagascar) are ranked 13th. They beat number one ranked Madison Kane and Cristina Miruna Tudor of Azusa (Calif.) Pacific in the NCAA Sweet 16; however, that pair remains tops in the nation. Becerra and Ranaivo went 30-5, setting a school-record for single season doubles victories.
Finally, freshman Maksym Kulish (Ukraine) is ranked 51st in singles with graduate Aaron Osmond (U.K.) and freshman Tom van den Dungen (Netherlands) 16th in doubles. Kulish received an at-large bid to the ITA Cup in the fall with Osmond and van den Dungen going 16-6 in duals playing at number one.
The 2024-25 season begins in September with the fall slate featuring several duals and open tournaments.