WICHITA FALLS, Texas – Following a fourth-straight NCAA Tournament appearance in 2016, 21st-ranked Midwestern State begins the 2017 season Thursday as the Mustangs travel to take on NCAA Division I UT Arlington in a 2 p.m. exhibition match at the UTA Tennis Center.

Freshman Bianca Duff highlighted the fall season for the Mustangs, advancing to the ITA South Central Region Championship match to earn a national ranking of 19th heading into the dual season. The newcomer is No. 2 in the South Central Region rankings and is joined by sophomore Eirini Kontaki, who appeared at No. 11 in the region following the fall season.

In doubles, junior captain Amy Clifton and Kontaki come in at No. 6 in the South Central Region after a quarterfinal appearance at the regional tournament in October.

Clifton is joined by returners Kontaki and sophomore Greta Lazzarotto in leading a youthful squad consisting of three true freshmen in Duff (Geelong, Australia), Anna Claire Gerletti (Cypress, Texas) and Ashley Ramirez (Scottsdale, Ariz.).

The Mustangs also bring in a pair of Division II transfers in junior Daria Panferova (Moscow, Russia/Northeastern State) and sophomore Maddy Coffman (Flower Mound, Texas/Dallas Baptist).

Midwestern State continues its exhibition slate next weekend in Tyler with matches against Tyler Junior College and SFA. The Mustangs face TJC in a 3 p.m. meeting Friday while taking on SFA in a 10 a.m. contest Saturday at the Murphy Tennis Center.