SURPRISE, Ariz. – The Midwestern State men advanced to the Elite Eight for just the second time in program history as they defeated Southwest Baptist 5-2 on Wednesday at the NCAA Division II Championships at the Surprise Tennis and Racquet Complex.
 
The No. 17 Mustangs (20-5) won their ninth straight with the victory, while the No. 37 Bearcats (11-11) lost to MSU for the second time this season.
 
"It's a great way to start off the finals," said MSU coach Scott Linn.  "We were really composed.  It was a good effort by everyone.  It was our most complete match this season."
 
The Mustangs jumped out to the lead by grabbing a 2-1 lead in doubles.
 
MSU's No. 3 doubles team of Tomas Grejtak and Zack Santagate set the tone for the match by quickly dispatching SBU's Alex Belote and Guido Margiotta 8-1.
 
The Mustangs top duo gave MSU the lead as 14th ranked Luke Joyce and Colby Meeks beat the Bearcats Omar El Kheshen and Kristof Kinal 8-5.  SBU got the No. 2 double as Daniel Cardona and Domingos Carissimo downed Kyle Davidson and Austin Crawford 8-4.
 
"We did a fantastic job in doubles," said Linn.  "We got up and put the pressure on them."
 
MSU then saw the bottom of the singles order come through to grab the win.
 
Franko Siljeg, playing No. 5, handled Belote 6-2, 6-1, finishing just minutes before Crawford, at No. 6, beat Margiotta 6-3, 6-3.
 
Kacper Boborykin ended the match with his 6-2, 6-2 win against Cardona at No. 4.
 
"Franko and Austin really stepped up today," said Linn.  "And Kacper did a great job as well.  It's the first national event for these guys."
 
MSU lost one singles point as Joyce, ranked 43rd in singles by the ITA, fell at No. 1 to 30th ranked Carissimo 6-0, 7-5.
 
Two matches went unfinished.
 
Meeks, at No. 3, had won his first set 6-3 over El Kheshen when the match was stopped, while Davidson was down 7-6, 1-0 at No. 2 to Kinal.
 
Midwestern advances to the national quarterfinals on Thursday at 10 a.m. Texas Time against second ranked Armstrong Atlantic (Ga.).  The defending national champion, Armstrong blanked New York Tech 5-0 in the round of 16.