SAN ANTONIO – The Midwestern State Mustangs played up a division and down one on Saturday, but claimed wins in both as Division II's 19th ranked team beat Incarnate Word 6-1 and Trinity 9-0.
 
The Mustangs opened the day with the win over the now Division I Cardinals at the Mabry Tennis Center using the DI scoring of one point for the doubles series and a point each for singles.
 
Then MSU crossed the US 281 freeway to face the Tigers, ranked 23rd in Division III, and claimed a shutout victory.
 
"The ladies did a great job," said MSU Coach Scott Linn.  "We played well with a young team and got a chance to play them a lot."
 
Against the former Lone Star Conference foe UIW, the Mustangs won at all but the top singles spot.
 
MSU's Kayla Casey, ranked 38th in Division II in singles, dropped a 6-2, 7-5 decision to the Cardinals Ivana Katavic.
 
But the Mustangs Amy Clifton started the parade through singles at the No. 2 spot, edging Sarah Savedra 7-5, 7-6.
 
Lauren Pineda ripped UIW's Andy Botha 6-0, 6-3 at No. 3, while Taylor Coffman bested Taryn Strahl a 6-4, 6-4 at No. 4.
 
Courtney Anderson won at No. 5 over Kelsey Reblin 6-0, 6-2, and Paige Boykin took the point at No. 6 by beating the Cards Christina Rodriguez 6-0, 6-1.
 
MSU won all three doubles matches to claim the single point.
 
The No. 1 duo of Coffman/Casey beat UIW's Katavic/Botha 6-1, as Clifton/Anderson won at No. 2 over Savedra/Strahl 7-5 and Pineda and Madeline Schorlemmer beat Reblin and Brianah Creek 6-0.
 
In the afternoon, MSU made it a clean sweep over Trinity at the Hill Tennis Center.
 
In tight doubles play, MSU grabbed all three points to get the ball rolling.
 
Anderson/Clifton at No. 2 posted an 8-2 win over Caroline White/Kathleen Lundquist to open play, followed by Casey/Coffman at No. 1 beating Kylie Hornbeck/Liza Southwick 8-4, and Pineda/Schorlemmer outlasting Stephanie Williamson/Kristy Hamilton 8-6.
 
Casey bounced back in singles play for the day, surviving a three-setter at No. 1 to beat White 1-6, 6-2, 6-4.
 
"Kayla was down 4-1 in the third when she came back to win the match," Linn beamed.  "I'm proud of her."
 
The Mustangs Sydney Briner battled at No. 6 singles to take a 7-5, 7-5 win over Lundquist in the next closest point.
 
Clifton won at No. 2 over Hornbeck 6-1, 6-4, with Coffman handing Gabrielle Roe a 6-4, 6-0 loss at No. 3.
 
Anderson had no trouble beating Southwick 6-1, 6-3 at No. 4, as Boykin won at No. 5 over Lavinia Bendandi 6-1, 6-2.
 
"Our ball striking was far superior on Saturday," Linn added.  "This team has a lot of potential and it's getting better with each match we play."
 
Midwestern State opens its home season on Friday when Metro State (Colo.) visits the MSU Tennis Center a noon match.