THE RUNDOWN
WICHITA FALLS, Texas – No. 20 Midwestern State drubbed UT Permian Basin for the third time this season to advance to the Round of 16 in the NCAA DII Championships. MSU clipped the Falcons 4-1 to advance to the NCAA Championship site for the ninth time in program history and fifth time in the last seven seasons.
 
The Mustangs caught UTPB shell-shocked early in the match. A team making its first appearance in the NCAA Postseason, the Falcons won only two games in doubles and didn't really find their footing until late in the first set of singles.
 
Junior Angel Palacios punched MSU's ticket to Altamonte Springs by breaking No. 42-ranked Raul Stevens' serve to lock up the win, 6-4, 6-4. The Oracle/ITA's No. 2 rated player improved to 18-5 at the No. 1 flight, matching the second-most wins at No. 1 in single-season history.
 
Prior to Palacios' win, the Mustangs trounced the Falcons in doubles, just missing out on a sweep before the point was decided. MSU Texas improves to 16-2 when gaining the upper hand.
 
The duo of Dillon Pineda and Nolan McCaig made quick work of Jordan Minjoot and Stevens at the No. 2 flight, coasting to a 6-1 win. Moments later, Denney Norrie and Palacios rolled Marcos Silva and Juan Diego Ruiz, 6-1, at the No. 3 flight to clinch the point.
 
The Maroon and Gold's 24th-ranked tandem of Alberto Diaz and Ben Westwick led Fernando Siqueira and Jorge Garcia, 5-0, before the point was decided.
 
MSU continued to bolster the advantage and maintain momentum by claiming first set wins on five of six courts to keep the pressure on the Falcons.
 
McCaig trounced Ruiz, 6-3, 6-1, for the first singles win. The sophomore stretched the lead to 2-0 after winning the final five games in the second to pull away.
 
After a dominant first set, Pineda rattled off four-straight games to close out the second set and down Felipe Dias, 6-1, 6-3, to push the lead to 3-0.
 
Jean Muniz suffered the lone blemish of the day for the Maroon and Gold. The sophomore dropped a 6-4, 6-1 decision to Siqueira to cut the score to 3-1 before Palacios closed out the match.
 
Alex Martinez Roca narrowly missed extending his winning streak and picking up win No. 23. The sophomore led Silva in the second, 5-2, when Palacios provided the winner.
 
Diaz led Enrique Sanchez by a set at the No. 5 flight, tied 5-5 in the second.
 
BOX SCORE
#20 Midwestern State (19-5) def. #UT Permian Basin (12-10)
NCAA DII Round of 32
Sunday, May 12, 2019 | 2 p.m.
Wichita Falls, Texas
MSU Tennis Center
 
Doubles
No. 1 – #24 Ben Westwick/Alberto Diaz (MSU) vs. Fernando Siqueira/Jorge Garcia (UTPB) 5-0 unfinished
No. 2 – Dillon Pineda/Nolan McCaig (MSU) def. Raul Stevens/Jordan Minjoot (UTPB) 6-1
No. 3 – Denney Norrie/Angel Palacios (MSU) def. Marcos Silva/Juan Diego Ruiz (UTPB) 6-1
 
Singles
No. 1 – #2 Angel Palacios (MSU) def. #42 Raul Stevens (UTPB) 6-4, 6-4
No. 2 – Alex Martinez Roca (MSU) vs. Marcos Silva (UTPB) 7-5, 5-2 unfinished
No. 3 – Dillon Pineda (MSU) def. Felipe Dias (UTPB) 6-1, 6-3
No. 4 – Nolan McCaig (MSU) def. Juan Diego Ruiz (UTPB) 6-3, 6-1
No. 5 – Alberto Diaz (MSU) vs. Enrique Sanchez (UTPB) 6-3, 5-5 unfinished
No. 6 – Fernando Siqueira (UTPB) def. Jean Muniz (MSU) 6-4, 6-1
 
Order of finish: Doubles (2, 3); Singles (4, 3, 6, 1)

UP NEXT
Midwestern State advances to the NCAA DII Championships on May 21 for the Round of 16 in Altamonte Springs, Fla., at the Sanlando Park Tennis Center.