SILVER CITY, N.M. - Midwestern State fell in its Lone Star Conference finale Saturday with a 5-4 loss to 26th-ranked Western New Mexico at the WNMU Tennis Courts.

Western New Mexico (13-7, 2-1 LSC) claimed the first two points of the match behind Blayze O'Keefe and Zachary Grabovic's 8-3 win over senior Chris Norrie and freshman Denney Norrie on court three and Jean-Laurent Pageault and Liam Fraboulet's 8-5 victory over sophomore Dylan Hall and freshman Angel Palacios at No. 2.

MSU avoided the sweep at No. 1 doubles with senior Ramon Toyos and sophomore Dillon Pineda battling to a 9-8 win over the nation's No. 3 duo of Vladimir Gnilozubov and Tristan Da Lio.

No. 21 Midwestern State (13-9, 1-2 LSC) struck first in singles with Toyos handing Fraboulet a 6-2, 6-1 loss on court one before Pineda claimed a 7-5, 6-1 victory over Da Lio at No. 4.

At No. 3 singles Gnilozubov downed Hall, 6-0, 6-4, while Pageault defeated Palacios, 6-2, 6-3, on court two to bring Western New Mexico within one point to clinch the match. C. Norrie responded by outlasting Sascha Brechtel at No. 5 singles with a 6-4, 2-6, 6-1 score to even the match at 4-4.

However, O'Keefe provided the winning match for Western New Mexico by rallying from a set down to defeat D. Norrie, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1.

With the loss, MSU will be the third seed in next week's LSC Tournament and will face WNMU in the semifinals Friday at 2 p.m. at the Arlington Tennis Center.

Midwestern State returns to the court Tuesday to take on No. 19 Southeastern Oklahoma in Durant, Okla. First serve is set for 3 p.m. at the Southeastern Tennis Complex.


#26 Western New Mexico 5, #21 Midwestern State 4
Apr. 15, 2017 at Silver City, N.M. (WNMU Tennis Courts)

Singles Competition
1. #9 Ramon Toyos (MSU) def. Liam Fraboulet (WNMU) 6-1, 6-2
2. Jean Laurent Pageault (WNMU) def. Angel Palacios (MSU) 6-2, 6-3
3. Vladimir Gnilozubov (WNMU) def. Dylan Hall (MSU) 6-1, 6-4
4. Dillon Pineda (MSU) def. Tristan Da Lio (WNMU) 7-5, 6-1
5. Chris Norrie (MSU) def. Sascha Brechtel (WNMU) 6-3, 2-6, 6-1
6. Blayze O'Keefe (WNMU) def. Denney Norrie (MSU) 5-7, 6-3, 6-1

Doubles Competition
1. Dillon Pineda/Ramon Toyos (MSU) def. #3 Vladimir Gnilozubov/Tristan Da Lio (WNMU) 9-8 (7-3)
2. Liam Fraboulet/Jean Laurent Pageault (WNMU) def. Angel Palacios/Dylan Hall (MSU) 8-5
3. Blayze O'Keefe/Zachary Grabovic (WNMU) def. Denney Norrie/Chris Norrie (MSU) 8-3
 
Match Notes:
Midwestern State 13-9; National ranking #21; Regional ranking #1
Western N.M. 13-7; National ranking #26; Regional ranking #3
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (1,3,4,2,5,6)