WICHITA FALLS, Texas – The Midwestern State Mustangs dropped their first match of the season as they opened Lone Star Conference play with a 5-4 loss to Incarnate Word.
 
The Cardinals (5-2, 1-0) came into the match 19th in the latest ITA Division II rankings, while MSU (4-1, 0-1) is ranked 31st.
 
"I hated to drop this one," said MSU Coach Scott Linn.  "We had the momentum coming out of doubles, but let it get away."
 
The Mustangs claimed two of the three doubles points.
 
Kyle Davidson and Franko Siljeg won at No. 2 over Aidan DeLeon and Brandon Davis 8-3, while Tomas Grejtak and Austin Crawford won at No. 3 against Luke Trautmann and Tucker Brown 8-4.
 
But the No. 1 doubles point proved to be pivotal for the match, as Incarnate Word's Jair Assuncao and Mario Jakovljevic outlasted MSU's Luke Joyce and Colby Meeks 9-7.
 
Then the Cardinals roared through the top four singles positions to win the match before the Mustangs took the points at Nos. 5 and 6.
 
UIW's Leonard Ivic rolled over Joyce 6-2, 6-2 at No. 1, while Assuncao beat Meeks at No. 2 6-4, 6-2.  Jackovljevic handed Davidson a loss at No. 3 6-3, 6-3, and David dropped Siljeg 6-2, 6-3 at No. 4.
 
Crawford won for the Mustangs at No. 5, beating Brown  6-1, 6-4.  Kacper Boborykin picked up the win at No. 6 over Trautmann 6-4, 6-2.
 
"I'm proud of the way our last two hung in there," said Linn.  "Every match is important and they showed the fire to finish."
 
The Mustangs return to the MSU Tennis Center tomorrow for a 10 a.m. non-conference match against Oklahoma Christian.