BOLIVAR, Mo. -- For the second consecutive season, Southwest Baptist has advanced to the NCAA Round of 16. The Bearcats took down MIAA opponent Nebraska-Kearney in the NCAA Central Regional finals to be one of 16 teams left standing in the NCAA tournament. The victory improves the Bearcats record to 12-9 on the season.
SBU started the scoring off by taking two of the three doubles matches with Kristof Kinal and Omar El Kheshen earning an 8-2 victory from the No. 1 doubles while Guido Margiotta and Yannick Doering picked up an 8-5 victory from the No. 3 position.
Kinal then took care of UNK's Nadella in straight sets to put the Bearcats up 3-1. After a UNK victory, Daniel Cardona won in straight sets to put SBU up 4-2, and after falling in No. 6 singles, Chris Blodig sealed the team victory by winning No. 3 singles in straight sets. El Kheshen was one point away from another victory before the match was called.
SBU will now advance to the NCAA Round of 16 where it will face Bluefield State on Wednesday, May 14 from Altamonte Springs, Florida.
