THE RUNDOWN
WICHITA FALLS, Texas – Midwestern State opened the 2019 regular season with a statement win over No. 14 Northeastern State, 6-1, on Saturday at the MSU Tennis Center.
 
"I think we're definitely further along than we were at this time last year," MSU Texas Coach Scott Linn said. "We remained extremely composed as a team. I don't think I saw that kind of team composure at all last year. I was very pleased with how we came out and competed."
 
The Mustangs wasted no time in securing an early lead with a strong opening performance in doubles.
 
The 22^nd-ranked tandem of Maddy Coffman and Ashley Ramirez coasted to a 6-1 victory over Mayra Jovic and Karla Tomaic at the No. 1 flight to open the match.
 
The duo of Bianca Duff and Greta Lazzarotto closed their match against Betka Gombarova and Tatjana Stoll with a flurry, 6-3, to clinch the early 1-0 advantage.
 
MSU Texas pair of Lea Cizeron and Juliette Mary knocked off Kristela Vidnere and Melissa Vera, 7-5, at No. 3 to complete the sweep.
 
The Mustangs kept the momentum going into singles, claiming first set wins on five of six courts.
 
Ramirez powered through Tomaic, 6-1, 6-2, at No. 5 to expand the lead to 2-0 and Lazzarotto swept Vidnere, 6-2, 6-3, at No. 4 to pull the Maroon and Gold a point from clinching the match.
 
Mary secured the win, downing Vera, 6-2, 7-5, at No. 6.
 
Playing out the remaining matches, Cizeron bested Gombarova, 7-5, 6-4, at No. 3 to extend the lead to 5-0.
 
In an All-American clash at the No. 1 flight, No. 16 Coffman took a 7-6 (3), tiebreaker in the first set and bullied her way to a 6-4 win against 33^rd-ranked Stoll.
 
Duff suffered the lone setback of the day after storming back to force a third set against Jovic, 6-2, 5-7, 7-5.
 
BOX SCORE
#15 Midwestern State (1-0) def. #14 Northeastern State (0-1)
Sat., Feb. 16, 2019 | 2 p.m.
Wichita Falls, Texas
MSU Tennis Center
 
Doubles
No. 1 – #22 Maddy Coffman/Ashley Ramirez (MSU) def. Mayra Jovic/Karla Tomaic (NSU) 6-1
No. 2 – Bianca Duff/Greta Lazzarotto (MSU) def. Betka Gombarova/Tatjana Stoll (NSU) 6-3
No. 3 – Lea Cizeron/Juliette Mary (MSU) def. Kristela Vidnere/Melissa Vera (NSU) 7-5
 
Singles
No. 1 – #16 Maddy Coffman (MSU) def. #33 Tatjana Stoll (NSU) 7-6 (3), 6-4
No. 2 – Mayra Jovic (NSU) def. Bianca Duff (MSU) 6-2, 5-7, 7-5
No. 3 – Lea Cizeron (MSU) def. Betka Gombarova (NSU) 7-5, 6-4
No. 4 – Greta Lazzarotto (MSU) def. Kristela Vidnere (NSU) 6-2, 6-3
No. 5 – Ashley Ramirez (MSU) def. Karla Tomaic (NSU) 6-1, 6-2
No. 6 – Juliette Mary (MSU) def. Melissa Vera (NSU) 6-2, 7-5
 
Order of finish: Doubles (1, 2, 3); Singles (5, 4, 6, 3, 1, 2)

UP NEXT
MSU Texas travels to Magnolia, Ark., to meet UT Tyler on Friday, Feb. 22. First serve is set for 2:30 p.m.