SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Northwest Missouri State University women's tennis squad was edged out the University of Central Oklahoma Bronchos in the 2025 MIAA Tournament championship match held at the Cooper Outdoor Courts, 4-3.
 
The Bronchos improved to 13-6 on the year and snapped the Bearcats's nine-match winning streak. Northwest dropped to 15-8 overall.
 
In doubles play, Northwest's No. 2 pairing of Miru Nonaka and Alva Norberg won their 11^th consecutive match with a 6-4 triumph over UCO's Ayaka Koga and Pete Komada. Nonaka and Norberg improved to 13-1 on the season.
 
However, UCO was able to deliver two wins at No. 3 and No. 2 to secure the doubles point. UCO's No. 3 doubles squad of Hui Yii Soo and Karina Youchenko recorded a 6-1 win over Northwest's Polina Gontaryk and Carolina Oliveira. UCO's No. 1 duo of Anika Ouwejan and Nefeli Zafeiri took down Northwest's Camilla Franzin and Marielena Muench, 6-4.
 
Norberg earned Northwest's first dual point of the match with a 6-3, 6-2 win at No. 2 singles over UCO's Zafeiri. Norberg's win was her 20th of the season to move her record to 20-6. Norberg is 18-5 in dual play and has won four straight singles matches. Norberg has won 10 of her last 11 singles matches.
 
In a battle of nationally-ranked opponents at No. 1 singles, UCO's No. 26-ranked Pete Komada took down Northwest's No. 33-ranked Marielena Muench, 6-3, 6-4.
 
Gontaryk came through with a three-set win at No. 3 singles. Gontaryk battled back from a set down at No. 3 singles to force a third set against UCO's Ayaka Koga. Koga won the first set, 6-1. Gontaryk answered with a 6-3 victory in the second set. Gontaryk scored a 6-2 win in the final set.
 
Oliveira worked herself to a three-set win at No. 4 singles. Oliveira gained a 6-4 opening-set win against UCO's Ouwejan. Ouwejan bounced with a 6-3 victory in the second to force a third and deciding set. Oliveira tallied a 6-2 win in the third set to give Northwest three team points in the dual.
 
Nonaka had to go the distance at No. 5 singles against UCO's Yurchenko, but the Bearcats lost the match in the third set. Nonaka registered a 6-4 win in the opening set only to see Yurchenko turn the tables and won the second set, 6-0. Yurchenko scored a key 6-2 win in the third to give the Bronchos three team points as well.
 
Franzin was forced to a third set at No. 6 singles by UCO's Soo before the Bronchos prevailed in the final set. Franzin posted a 6-4 opening-set win, but Soo leveled the match with a 6-3 victory in the second. Soo gave the Bronchos the MIAA crown with a 6-3 win in the final set.
 
The NCAA Div. II postseason tournament selections will be made Monday evening and the Bearcats are expected to be included in the field.