THE RUNDOWN
SURPRISE, Ariz. – Midwestern State punched its ticket to the national quarterfinals in dominating fashion, rolling to a 5-1 victory over No. 17-ranked Bluefield State in the Round of 16 at the NCAA II Championships Wednesday at the Surprise Tennis and Racquet Club.
 
The Mustangs make their fifth appearance (2006, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2018) in the NCAA II Quarterfinals on Thursday taking on No. 2 seed Columbus State at 11 a.m. (Central). The Cougars defeated Southwest Baptist, 5-0, on Wednesday to advance.
 
MSU pounced on the Big Blues early in doubles to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
 
The 15th-ranked duo of Dillon Pineda and Nolan McCaig cruised to an 8-3 win over Girogi Datashvili and Tom Schmieta at No. 1 to open the match and stake MSU to a 1-0 lead.
 
BSC evened the match at one-all as Vasudev Vijayaraman and Denney Norrie fell to Ignacio Pulido and Arthur Figuiere, 8-5, at No. 2.
 
In the day's only ranked matchup, MSU's 40th-ranked tandem of Alex Martinez Roca and Angel Palacios outlasted 44th-ranked Alex Rudenco and Luke Busse, 8-5, at No. 3 to give the Mustangs a 2-1 edge going into singles.
 
Picking up where he left off in doubles, Palacios wasted no time in a complete domination of Datashvili -- 6-1, 6-1 -- at No. 3 to stretch the advantage to 3-1.
 
Not long after, the 13th-ranked Vijayaraman toppled Figuiere, 6-2, 6-1, at No. 1 to put MSU within a point of clinching the match.
 
Seconds later, Martinez Roca secured the Maroon and Gold's berth into the quarterfinals with a 6-3, 6-3 decision over Schmieta at No. 5.
 
MSU was down a set on all three remaining courts as the match was decided.
 
NOTES
- Midwestern State improves to 22-5 on the season, the second most wins in program history behind only 1998's 23-win campaign.
- Sophomore Angel Palacios moved up to fourth on MSU's single-season combined wins list, posting his 43^rd victory of the season.
- Freshman Alex Martinez Roca moved up to fifth on MSU's single-season combined wins list, posting his 42^nd victory of the season.
 
BOX SCORE
#16 Midwestern State (22-5) def. #17 Bluefield State (16-3)
Wednesday, May 09, 2018 | 2 p.m.
Surprise, Arizona
Surprise Tennis & Racquet Complex
 
Doubles
No. 1 – #15 Dillon Pineda/Nolan McCaig (MSU) def. Giorgi Datashvili/Tom Schmieta (BSC) 8-3
No. 2 – Ignacio Pulido/Arthur Figuiere (BSC) def. Vasudev Vijayaraman/Denney Norrie (MSU) 8-5
No. 3 – #40 Alex Martinez Roca/Angel Palacios (MSU) def. #44 Alex Rudenco/Luke Busse (BSC) 8-5
 
Singles
No. 1 – #13 Vasudev Vijayaraman (MSU) def. Arthur Figuiere (BSC) 6-2, 6-1
No. 2 – Dillon Pineda (MSU) vs. Alex Rudenco (BSC) 3-6, 1-4 unfinished
No. 3 – #73 Angel Palacios (MSU) def. Giorgi Datashvili (BSC) 6-1, 6-1
No. 4 – Nolan McCaig (MSU) vs. Ignacio Pulido (BSC) 5-7, 0-1
No. 5 – Alex Martinez Roca (MSU) def. Tom Schmieta (BSC) 6-3, 6-3
No. 6 – Jean Muniz (MSU) vs. Luke Busse (BSC) 5-7, 1-1
 
Order of finish: Doubles (1, 2, 3); Singles (3, 1, 6)
 
UP NEXT
Midwestern State returns to the courts on Thursday, May 10, in the NCAA II Quarterfinals at the Surprise Tennis & Racquet Complex against No. 2 seed Columbus State. First serve is set for 11 a.m. (Central).
 
BRACKET
2018 NCAA Division II Men's Tennis Championship Draw
Surprise Racquet and Tennis Center
Surprise, Ariz.
Round of 16
Wednesday, May 9
#1 Barry (Fla.) def. #40 St. Edward's, 5-0
Concordia (NY) def. #47 Mercyhurst, 5-0.
#12 Indianapolis def. #15 Hawaii-Hilo, 5-3
#35 Washburn def. #4 Lander, 5-3
#13 Azusa Pacific def. #5 Lynn, 5-1
#21 Drury def. #48 Queens (N.Y.), 5-0
#16 Midwestern State def. #17 Bluefield State, 5-1
#2 Columbus State def. #10 Southwest Baptist, 5-0
Quarterfinals
Thursday, May 10
#1 Barry vs. Concordia, 11 a.m.
#12 Indianapolis vs. #35 Washburn, 11 a.m.
#13 Azusa Pacific vs. #21 Drury, 11 a.m.
#16 Midwestern State vs. #2 Columbus State, 11 a.m.
Semifinals
Friday, May 11
Barry/Concordia winner vs. Indianapolis/Washburn winner, 11 a.m.
Azusa Pacific/Drury winner vs. Midwestern State/Columbus State winner, 11 a.m.
Championship
Saturday, May 12
Semifinal winners, 11 a.m.