WICHITA FALLS, Texas – The 24th ranked Midwestern State Mustangs outlasted the second ranked team in the NJCAA on Friday, downing Tyler Junior College 5-4 on a cold afternoon and evening at the MSU Tennis Center.
 
The Mustangs (2-0) and Apaches (4-5) battled for over five hours before completing the match.
 
"I was pleased with the way we came back in the match," said MSU coach Scott Linn.  "With wins at the top three singles spots,  Tyler picked up some great momentum.  But, our guys slowed down a bit and got the momentum changed back our direction."
 
MSU grabbed two of the three doubles points.
 
MSU won at No. 1 and No. 3 as Colby Meeks and Luke Joyce defeated Tyler's James and Mitch Martell 8-6, while Kyle Davidson and Franko Siljeg downed TJC's George Rivers and Zach Sivalls 8-4.
 
The Mustangs No. 2 team of Jarrod Liston and Tomas Grejtak fell to the  fourth ranked doubles team in NJCAA, Adrien Berkowicz and Jacob Rother 9-7.
 
The Apaches took the lead with the first half of singles play, sweeping the top three positions to NJCAA nationally ranked opponents.
 
Joyce, ranked 38th in NCAA Division II by the ITA, fell at No. 1 singles to NJCAA No. 1 Berkowicz 6-4, 6-4.
 
Meeks dropped a 7-6, 6-3 decision to No. 21 Rother at No. 2, while Siljeg fell in three to No. 34 James Martell 7-6, 4-6, 6-1 in the third position.
 
But the Mustangs roared spots four through six, as Davidson beat No. 46 Mitch Martell 6-4, 6-4 at No. 4.
 
Kacper Boborykin beat TJC's George Rivers 6-0, 7-6 at No. 5, and Austin Crawford took a 6-1, 6-4 win over Sivalls at No. 6.
 
Midwestern hosts a pair of matches on Saturday, taking on Dallas Baptist at 2 p.m., then following with East Central (Okla.) at 6 p.m.