THE RUNDOWN
KINGSVILLE, Texas – The 12th-ranked MSU Texas women's tennis team was unable to close out Texas A&M-Kingsville on the road, suffering a stunning 5-4 setback to the Javelinas at the TAMUK Tennis Courts on Saturday.
 
In doubles, the Mustangs got a pair of wins to take a 2-1 lead into singles. The fifth-ranked tandem of Maddy Coffman and Bianca Duff bested Victoria Romanovskaia and Valerie Ruiz, 8-4, at the No. 1 spot while the duo of Anna Claire Gerletti and Emilija Segetlija took down Viviana Ortiz and Phonephathep Philavong, 8-6 at No. 3 for the MSU wins.
 
After surrendering the lead to the Javelinas in singles, Ashley Ramirez and Coffman earned a pair of victories to pull MSU within a point of clinching the match. Coffman ousted Romanovskaia, 6-3, 6-1, at No. 1 to tie the match at three. Moments later Ramirez closed out a 7-5, 6-2 decision over Julia Rauer at No. 4 to give the Maroon and Gold a 4-3 lead.
 
The momentum would not swing back in MSU's favor as the Javelinas held on for a three-set thriller at the No. 2 line to clinch the match. Duff stretched Philavong to the brink, but was unable to close it out late, falling 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 to give TAMUK the win.

BOX SCORE
Texas A&M-Kingsville def. #12 Midwestern State, 5-4
Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018 | 2 p.m.
Kingsville, Texas
TAMUK Tennis Courts
 
Doubles
No. 1 – #5 Maddy Coffman/Bianca Duff (MSU) def. Victoria Romanovskaia/Valerie Ruiz (TAMUK) 8-4
No. 2 – Stephanie Baerman/Laura Montalvo (TAMUK) def. Greta Lazzarotto/Ashley Ramirez (MSU) 9-7
No. 3 – Anna Claire Gerletti/Emilija Segetlija (MSU) def. Viviana Ortiz/Phonephathep Philavong (TAMUK) 8-6
 
Singles
No. 1 – Maddy Coffman (MSU) def. Victoria Romanovskaia (TAMUK) 6-3, 6-1
No. 2 – Phonephathep Philavong (TAMUK) def. Bianca Duff (MSU) 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
No. 3 – Laura Montalvo (TAMUK) def. Greta Lazzarotto (MSU) 6-1, 6-4
No. 4 – Ashley Ramirez (MSU) def. Julia Rauer (TAMUK) 7-5, 6-2
No. 5 – Valerie Ruiz (TAMUK) def. Anna Claire Gerletti (MSU) 6-3, 6-1
No. 6 – Stephanie Baerman (TAMUK) def. Emilija Segetlija (MSU) 6-4, 6-4
 
Order of finish: Doubles (1, 2, 3); Singles (5, 3, 1, 4, 6, 2)

UP NEXT
Midwestern State is back in action on Thursday, March 1 against Southwest Baptist. First serve is set for 2 p.m. at the MSU Tennis Center.