ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. – In the history book, this year's version of Midwestern State women's tennis had the appearance of continuing the ever growing legacy of Mustangs women's tennis.
 
This team accomplished much advancing to the NCAA Division II finals site for the seventh consecutive year before bowing out to Northwest Missouri State, 4-2, in the Round of 16 Wednesday afternoon at Sanlando Park Tennis Center.
 
Even more, this team of Mustangs won 21 matches and finished as league runner-up before claiming their third consecutive Lone Star Conference postseason tournament title.
 
All of those are tremendous accomplishments to be sure, but pale in comparison to how this team established its true identity as warriors.
 
This group of women overcame mid-season adversity and a change in the lineup to immediately reel off eight straight wins with five of the victories over nationally ranked opposition including two over teams ranked in the ITA Top 10. The first two wins of the kind for any MSU Texas women's tennis program.
 
The grit of the group displayed in a run of four consecutive 4-3 wins decided in the last match on the court. It seemed appropriate for junior Juliette Mary to clinch the Mustangs' trip to nationals in that exact manner against St. Mary's.
 
Midwestern State dominated doubles play Wednesday afternoon with Bianca Duff and Ashley Ramirez claiming a 6-1 win at No. 1 before Greta Lazzarotto and Casie Curry took a 6-2 victory at No. 2.
 
But Northwest Missouri claimed four of the five matches coming off of the singles court to earn a quarterfinal matchup with No. 6 Indianapolis, which rolled to a 4-0 win over Goldey Beacom in another Round of 16 matchup.

Lone Star Conference Freshman of the Year Casie Curry claimed the Mustangs' lone singles victory taking a 6-3, 6-1 decision at No. 6 to reach her 20th singles win of the year.
 
Lazzarotto, MSU Texas' lone senior, closes a legendary career as the program's all-time wins leader with 149 including 90 in doubles and 59 in singles.
 
Once again, just part of the story of the Mustangs' leader who set the tone in numerous ways. She became the first from MSU to earn the prestigious Elite 90 Award presented to the student-athlete with the highest GPA at an NCAA championship site.
 
Lazzarotto was a three-time Lone Star Conference Academic Player of the Year for women's tennis and was presented MSU's Marie Morgan Award last month as the school's top overall female student-athlete.
 
Midwestern State returns juniors Lea Cizeron, Bianca Duff, Juliette Mary, Ashley Ramirez and Emilija Segetlija along with sophomore Taylor Gray and Curry.
 
The incredible run of a strong group of women fuels continued optimism and growth heading into Scott Linn's 10th season at the helm.
 
BOX SCORE
#24 Northwest Missouri State 4, #14 Midwestern State 1
NCAA DII Round of 16
Wednesday, May 22, 2019 | 11 a.m.
Altamonte Springs, Fla.
Sanlando Park Tennis Center
 
Doubles
No. 1 – #10 Bianca Duff/Ashley Ramirez (MSU) def. #15 Tania Teruel/Marta Farranda (NWMSU), 6-1
No. 2 – Greta Lazzarotto/Casie Curry (MSU) def. Irene Recuenco/Julia Aliseda (NWMSU), 6-2
No. 3 – Lea Cizeron/Taylor Gray (MSU) vs. Tess Lovig/Julie Rinderknech (NWMSU) 5-2, unfinished
 
Singles
No. 1 – #17 Irene Recuenco (NWMSU) def. Bianca Duff (MSU) 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
No. 2 – #66 Greta Lazzarotto (MSU) vs. Tania Teruel (NWMSU) 6-4, 6-7 (3-7), unfinished
No. 3 – Marta Farrando (NWMSU) def. Lea Cizeron (MSU) 7-6 (7-2), 6-2
No. 4 – #57 Julia Aliseda (NWMSU) def. Juliette Mary (MSU) 6-4, 6-1
No. 5 – Julie Rinderknech (NWMSU) def. Ashley Ramirez 6-3, 6-1
No. 6 – #62 Casie Curry (MSU) def. Sara Grozdanovic (NWMSU) 6-4, 6-1
 
Order of finish: Doubles (1, 2); Singles (4, 5, 6, 1, 3)