TOPEKA, Kansas – The No. 24-ranked Northwest Missouri State University women’s tennis team advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division II Central Regional Tournament with a 4-1 triumph over No. 32-ranked Augustana.

The Bearcats (18-6 overall) opened up a 1-0 lead in the dual by capturing victories at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles.

The No. 2 doubles pairing of Irene Recuenco and Julia Aliseda picked up a 6-2 win over Augustana’s Taylor Jackson and Anca Rusu. The victory improved Rucuenco and Aliseda’s doubles’ mark to 7-1 this season.

The No. 3 duo of Sara Grozdanovic and Julie Rinderknech posted a 6-2 triumph over Grace Goble and Annika Teske. It marked the third win this season for the Grozdanovic and Rinderknech pairing.

Aliseda tallied the first singles win of the day at No. 4. Aliseda scored a 6-2, 6-0 win over Goble. Aliseda, ranked No. 57 in the latest ITA singles rankings, improved to 23-7 on the year.

Grozdanovic gave Northwest a 3-0 lead in the dual with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Taske. Grozdanovic improved to 15-6 on the year in singles play.

Larua Arce Vieyra put Augustana on the board with a win at No. 2 singles over Northwest’s Tania Teruel, 6-1, 6-2.

Marta Ferrando clinched the dual victory for the Bearcats at No. 3 singles with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Jackson. Ferrando moved to 21-8 on the year, including a 17-5 mark at No. 3 singles.

Northwest, the No. 6 seed, will take on No. 2 seed Washburn (22-3 overall) at 1 p.m. Tuesday in the Central Region final.

— Northwest Athletics —