THE RUNDOWN
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – No. 16 Midwestern State overcame an early deficit despite dropping two-of-three doubles courts to take down Western New Mexico 5-2 Friday afternoon at the HEB Tennis Center in the Lone Star Conference Championship semifinals.

The Mustangs (19-5) advance to the LSC Finals Saturday against No. 44-ranked Cameron at 10 a.m.
 
For only the fourth-time this season and first-time in league play, the Mustangs were unable to win at least two doubles matches, falling behind WNMU 2-1. Previously, MSU was 0-3 when failing to grab the early lead, falling to No. 15-ranked Hawaii-Hilo, sixth-ranked Azusa Pacific and Tyler JC.
 
The Mustangs 11th-ranked tandem of Dillon Pineda and Nolan McCaig suffered an 8-4 upset to Liam Fraboulet and Vladimir Gnilozubov at the No. 1 flight to open the match, their first loss against a conference opponent this season.
 
The duo of Vasudev Vijayaraman and Denney Norrie quickly evened the match, downing Niko Barr and Zachary Grabovic, 8-3, at No. 2 to improve to 16-8 on the year.
 
For just the second-time this season and the first-time in their last 14 matches, the No. 24-ranked pair of Alex Martinez Roca and Angel Palacios fell to David Valles and Pablo Santibanez at No. 3. Martinez Roca and Palacios saw their 13-match winning streak snapped at the hands of the Mustangs, falling to 19-2 on the season.
 
It was all Maroon and Gold after that as MSU won in straight-sets on four singles courts to clinch the match.
 
The No. 77th-ranked Palacios moved into a tie with Brett Emerson (2006) for the sixth-most single season combined wins in program history, sweeping Barr, 6-0, 6-0, at No. 3 to even the match. The sophomore's 19 singles wins on the season ties Austin Crawford (2013) for the seventh-most in single season history.
 
Freshman Martinez Roca gave MSU the lead for good, blasting Valles, 6-3, 6-2, at No. 5 to improve to 18-4 on the year. The Castelldefels, Spain, native moved up to 11^th on the single season combined wins list with his 37th overall win of the season.
 
Freshman Jean Muniz toppled Santibanez after pulling out a tiebreaker in the first, 7-6 (5), 6-2 to push the advantage to 4-2. The Brazilian grabbed his fifth-straight win to improve to 14-5.
 
Vijayaraman clinched the match for the Maroon and Gold with a 6-4, 6-3 decision against Fraboulet at No. 1. The senior bolstered his record to 15-9, all at the No. 1 flight, with the win.
 
Pineda was tied in the third-set with Gnilozubov, 6-1, 4-6, 6-6 while McCaig was up 5-1 in the third when the match was decided.
 
BOX SCORE
#16 Midwestern State (19-5, 3-0 LSC) def. Western New Mexico (3-18, 0-3 LSC)
Friday, April 20, 2018 | 2 p.m.
Corpus Christi, Texas
HEB Tennis Center
 
Doubles
No. 1 – Liam Fraboulet/Vladimir Gnilozubov (WNMU) def. #11 Dillon Pineda/Nolan McCaig (MSU) 8-4
No. 2 – Vasudev Vijayaraman/Denney Norrie (MSU) def. Niko Barr/Zachary Grabovic (WNMU) 8-3
No. 3 – David Valles/Pablo Santibanez (WNMU) def. #24 Alex Martinez Roca/Angel Palacios (MSU) 8-4
 
Singles
No. 1 – #12 Vasudev Vijayaraman (MSU) def. Liam Fraboulet (WNMU) 6-4, 6-3
No. 2 – Dillon Pineda (MSU) vs. Vladimir Gnilozubov (WNMU) 6-1, 4-6, 6-6 unfinished
No. 3 – #73 Angel Palacios (MSU) def. Niko Barr (WNMU) 6-0, 6-0
No. 4 – Nolan McCaig (MSU) vs. Zachary Grabovic (WNMU) 5-7, 6-1, 5-1 unfinished
No. 5 – Alex Martinez Roca (MSU) def. David Valles (WNMU) 6-3, 6-2
No. 6 – Jean Muniz (MSU) def. Pablo Santibanez (WNMU) 7-6 (5), 6-2
 
Order of finish: Doubles (1, 2, 3); Singles (3, 5, 6, 1)
 
UP NEXT
Midwestern State takes on No. 2 seed and No. 44-ranked Cameron on Saturday in the Lone Star Conference Championships finals at the HEB Tennis Center. First serve is set for 10 a.m.