#15 Midwestern State (8-3) at #18 Oklahoma Baptist (14-1)
Saturday, Mar. 25, 2017 | 10 a.m.
OBU Tennis Courts | Shawnee, Okla.

#15 Midwestern State (8-3) vs. Newman (3-10)
Saturday, Mar. 25, 2017 | 3 p.m.
OBU Tennis Courts | Shawnee, Okla.


WICHITA FALLS, Texas – Midwestern State takes on its final road trip for the month of March Saturday with matches against No. 18 Oklahoma Baptist and Newman (Kan.) at the OBU Tennis Courts in Shawnee, Okla.

The Mustangs take the courts Saturday at 10 a.m. with a top-20 matchup against the Lady Bison before facing Newman in a neutral match at 3 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT
- Midwestern State returned to the MSU Tennis Center for a Tuesday meeting with in-region foe Metro State (Colo.), defeating the Roadrunners 8-1 with Metro earning its lone win of the afternoon at No. 1 doubles
 
MUSTANGS CLIMB TO 15TH IN NATIONAL POLL
- The Mustangs achieved their fourth-highest national ranking in program history Wednesday, jumping six spots to No. 15 in the Oracle/ITA Women's Division II national poll
- The top-15 ranking is the fourth for the program in the last three seasons, earning a program-best ranking of 13th at the conclusion of the 2015 season that included a trip to the NCAA Elite Eight and back-to-back rankings of No. 14 during the 2015 season
 
A LOOK AT THE MUSTANGS
- Midwestern State has compiled an 8-3 record nearing the midway point of the regular season while sitting with a 1-0 mark in Lone Star Conference action
- The Mustangs moved up to second in the South Central Region rankings last week, surpassing conference rival Cameron to sit behind No. 12 St. Mary's (Texas)
- MSU boasts three players in the top 10 in the regional singles rankings in Daria Panferova (5th), Bianca Duff (7th) and Eirini Kontaki (9th)
- Panferova has posted a 6-5 mark playing at the No. 1 position for the Mustangs this season with two wins over regionally-ranked players
- Duff sits at 7-4 on the season playing primarily at No. 3 singles, twice earning LSC Player of the Week honors
- Kontaki has won eight-straight matches for a perfect slate in March to push her season record to a team-best 9-2 playing at No. 2 and 3 singles for MSU
- Maddy Coffman is riding a four-match win streak to sport an 8-3 record playing at No. 4 and 5 this season while Greta Lazzarotto has also been strong with a 7-3 mark having played Nos. 4-6 this year
- In doubles, the duo of Duff and Coffman have pushed their unblemished record to 11-0 on the season to rank seventh in the South Central Region rankings
- On court three, Lazzarotto and Ashley Ramirez have teamed up for a 9-2 record
 
SCOUTING THE LADY BISON
- Oklahoma Baptist climbed into the national rankings to No. 18 this week following a 14-1 start to the season with its lone setback coming to No. 14 Drury (Mo.) on Feb. 17 
- Rouxanne Janse Van Rensburg ranks 36th nationally and fourth in the Central Region with a 13-1 record at No. 1 singles this season
- Olivia Charvat is the other Lady Bison in the regional rankings, sporting a 13-2 record at No. 2 for 12th in the region
- Kim Moosbacher and Alex Bowers lead Oklahoma Baptist in wins with 14-1 records at No. 3 and 5, respectively, currently riding 13-match win streaks
- The duo of Janse Van Rensburg and Moosbacher are ranked 12th nationally and second in the region with an 11-3 mark playing at the top doubles position
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
- Midwestern State and Oklahoma Baptist will meet for just the second time Saturday with the Mustangs posting a 9-0 sweep of the Lady Bison on Mar. 5, 2003 in Shawnee
 
SCOUTING THE JETS
- Newman has lost its last five matches and has its lone win over a Division II program this season with a 7-2 victory over Colorado Mesa for a 3-10 overall record
- The Jets boast one player ranked in the South Central Region rankings in Janekke Rijk at No. 17
- Niamh Packer leads the Jets with a 9-3 dual record on the season playing at No. 4 singles
- In doubles, the tandem of Packer and Kateryna Stoianova are 7-5 at No. 2
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
- Midwestern State and Newman will square off for the first time in seven years Saturday with the Mustangs leading the all-time series, 3-0
- The Mustangs have surrendered just one point to the Jets in program history with 9-0 sweeps in 2009 and 2010 and an 8-1 victory in 2008
 
LOOKING AHEAD
- The Mustangs return to the MSU Tennis Center Friday, Mar. 31 to begin a seven-match homestand against No. 42 St. Edward's at 3:30 p.m.