The sign worked just fine for the Emporia State women’s tennis team.
After taking Friday’s NCAA Tournament dual over Nebraska-Omaha 5-2, the Lady Hornets gathered for a group picture on the court without a championship trophy.
Instead, they held up a white posterboard with only five words on it: “We’re going to Disney World.”
ESU earned that privilege Friday, dominating its rematch with UNO and reserving its spot at the NCAA Sweet 16 in Altamonte Springs, Fla., next week.
“It’s great right now.” ESU senior Karly Schultz said. “I don’t know if words can describe it.”
The Lady Hornets finally were able to overcome their second-round blues, advancing to the Sweet 16 for the first time in school history.
ESU had lost in the second round two of the last three seasons.
“We’re just grateful to go (to Florida),” ESU junior Natalie Villaflor said. “I’m pumped.”
For the second day in a row, the crucial match for ESU came at No. 1 doubles.
Villaflor and Lacey Luina put themselves in a 3-0 hole against UNO’s Rachel Faulk and Maggie Russell, starting out slowly just like they had Thursday against Mesa State.
“We knew how important it was,” Villaflor said, “and we stepped up.”
The pair took five of the next seven games to tie the match at 5, then rallied to take the final three games for a 9-7 victory in front of an enthusiastic home crowd.
“They gutted it out,” ESU coach John Cayton said.
Villaflor and Luina pulled out a similar result in their first matchup against UNO on March 3, winning that doubles match, 9-8.
ESU quickly wrapped up the team victory from there, taking three of the four singles matches.
Villaflor coasted to a 6-0, 6-1 triumph in No. 2 doubles over Russell, and Lacey Luina completed a 6-0, 6-4 win over Amy Pierson at No. 3s.
“Once Lacey was done,” Schultz said, “I knew it was up to me.”
Schultz finished things off, watching Katie Spahn’s final shot sail past the baseline to compete a 6-1, 6-2 victory. She immediately received a high-five from Cayton and also hugs from her teammates after the dual-clinching win.
“I started tearing up in the final game,” Schultz said. “I knew they were my final points and that it was my final match at home.”
Cayton was especially pleased his team was able to seal the victory after taking a 2-1 lead after doubles. The Lady Hornets had the same advantage after doubles last year, but ended up falling to Northwest Missouri State, 5-4.
“After doubles, we got in the huddle and said, ‘Let’s not repeat that,’” Cayton said. “We were really focused from then on.”
Cayton will lead the Lady Hornets in the Sweet 16 in just his second season as coach. Four of the players were recruited to ESU by previous coach Shawn Siegele.
“I think people were counting us out,” Cayton said. “We knew what we had.”
The tough becomes tougher from here for the Hornets, who will take on undefeated, No. 1-ranked and defending National Champion BYU-Hawaii on Wednesday in the Sweet 16.
The Seasiders have won four of the last five Division-II national championships.
NCAA Tournament
Second Round
Friday at Emporia
ESU 5, UNO 2
Doubles
No. 1 — Natalie Villaflor/Lacey Luina (ESU) def. Rachel Faulk/Maggie Russell (UNO), 9-7.
No. 2 — Marcela Bayon/Karly Schultz (ESU) def. Kelsey Haas/Kylie Roe (UNO), 8-2.
No. 3 — Amy Pierson/Katie Spahn (UNO) def. Audrey Sherman/Molly Bowman (ESU), 8-2.
Singles
No. 1 — Faulk (UNO) def. Bayon (ESU), 6-2, 6-2.
No. 2 — Villaflor (ESU) def. Russell (UNO), 6-0, 6-1.
No. 3 — Luina (ESU) def. Pierson (UNO), 6-0, 6-4.
No. 4 — Schultz (ESU) def. Spahn (UNO), 6-1, 6-2.