WICHITA FALLS, Texas – No. 22 Midwestern State battled until the very end before falling short in its 2016 home opener Friday with a 5-4 defeat to Tyler Junior College at the MSU Tennis Center.

The Apaches, ranked No. 2 in the NJCAA, improved to 8-5 on the season while the Mustangs fell to 1-1 overall.

It was a close contest from the start with the Mustangs taking a 1-0 lead after Madeline Schorlemmer and Greta Lazzarotto recorded an 8-4 win at No. 2 doubles to give MSU the early advantage. TJC answered right back with Gabrielle Andrews and Elizabeth Bagerbaseh earning a tight 8-6 win at No. 1 over Eirini Kontaki and Abby White. However, MSU took a 2-1 lead into singles play as Amy Clifton and Lauren Pineda came away with a 9-7 win on court three to help the Mustangs regain the lead.

The Apaches totaled three straight-set victories at the top of the lineup to begin singles play and take a 4-2 lead on Midwestern State. Lazzarotto halted the TJC winning streak with a 6-1, 5-7, 6-1 win over Michelle Walker on court five to move to 2-0 on the season before the Apaches clinched the match with a three-set victory on court four. 

Lauren Pineda also remained undefeated on the season by earning a straight-set win at No. 6 singles, pulling out a pair of tiebreakers in each set to make it a 5-4 final.

Midwestern State travels to Edmond, Okla., Saturday for two matches at Central Oklahoma's Broncho Courts. The Mustangs face host UCO at 9 a.m. before squaring off against Southern Nazarene (Okla.) at 2 p.m.


Tyler Junior College 5, No. 22 Midwestern State 4
Mar. 4, 2016 at Wichita Falls, Texas (MSU Tennis Center)

Singles Competition
1. Gabrielle Andrews (TJC) def. Amy Clifton (MSU) 6-0, 6-0
2. Elizabeth Bagerbaseh (TJC) def. No. 37 Madeline Schorlemmer (MSU) 6-4, 6-3
3. Tereza Klocova (TJC) def. Eirini Kontaki (MSU) 6-3, 6-1
4. Montana Moore (TJC) def. Abby White (MSU) 6-7 (6-7), 7-6 (7-4), 6-1
5. Greta Lazzarotto (MSU) def. Michelle Walker (TJC) 6-1, 5-7, 6-1
6. Lauren Pineda (MSU) def. Elena Tendero (TJC) 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-4)

Doubles Competition
1. Gabrielle Andrews/Elizabeth Bagerbaseh (TJC) def. Eirini Kontaki/Abby White (MSU) 8-6
2. Madeline Schorlemmer/Greta Lazzarotto (MSU) def. Montana Moore/Michelle Walker (TJC) 8-4
3. Amy Clifton/Lauren Pineda (MSU) def. Elena Tendero/Tereza Klocova (TJC) 9-7
 
Match Notes:
Tyler Junior College 8-5
Midwestern State 1-1; National ranking #22 
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (1,3,2,5,4,6)