WICHITA FALLS, Texas – The Midwestern State Mustangs suffered their first loss of the season on Friday as the No. 38 Mustangs fell to the NJCAA's top-ranked team, Tyler Junior College, 5-4 at the MSU Tennis Center.
 
MSU (1-1) picked up a 2-1 lead after doubles, but the Apaches (3-4) picked up four of the six singles points to take match.
 
"This was a learning experience for our ladies," said MSU Coach Scott Linn.  "We had our chances, but didn't take advantage of them."
 
The top ranked NJCAA doubles squad of Fausthy Pietersz and Nelo Phiri of TJC handed MSU's Lauren Pineda and Madeline Schorlemmer an 8-5 loss at No.1, but MSU claimed the rest of the doubles.
 
Taylor Coffman and Sarita Adhikary won at No. 2 over Kerry Wiegard and Kylie Reynaud 8-6, and the Mustangs No. 3 team of Kendra and Kayla Casey ripped Kirsten Pierce and Cayti Johnson 8-2.
 
In singles, MSU's Fatima Clementino beat Wiegard 6-1, 6-4 at No. 5, and Pineda downed Johnson 6-0, 6-1.
 
But the rest belonged to TJC, as Pietersz, No. 2 in NJCAA, beat Coffman 6-3, 6-4 at No. 1.  Phiri, No. 7 in the NJCAA, won at No. 2 over Kendra Casey 6-3, 6-0, while Kayla Casey lost at No. 3 to No. 21 Reynaud 6-2, 6-1.
 
The Mustangs lost a hearbreaker at No. 4, as Schorlemmer dropped the second set tiebreaker after winning the first set, and fell to Pierce in three 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-2.
 
MSU can't dwell long on the loss, as the Mustangs host a pair of Division II matches on Saturday, facing Dallas Baptist at 2 p.m. and East Central (Okla.) at 6 p.m.