Box Score WICHITA FALLS, Texas -- No. 8 Hawai'i Pacific used a fast start to turn away No. 15 Midwestern State in a clash between top 15 women's tennis teams on Tuesday afternoon at the MSU Tennis Center. 

The Sharks raced out to a 3-0 lead, then withstood a furious Mustangs comeback attempt, to earn the 4-2 victory.

"Today, we stuck in there," MSU Texas head coach Scott Linn said. "We had players come out there and put themselves in a position to win."

Lea Cizeron put the Mustangs on the board with a straight set win over Elodie Busson. Cizeron, who has defeated two ranked opponents in the last two weeks, improved to 6-2 on the season and a perfect 4-0 at the top spot.

"Lea (Cizeron) is not afraid of anybody right now," Linn said. "Lea feels like she can out compete anyone on the court."

At number two, No. 43 Casie Curry downed Marleen Tilgner in straight sets 6-2, 6-2 to close the gap to 3-2.

"I think Casie Curry dug in today and that's a great sign for our program when she comes ready to get after it," Linn said. 

Emilija Segetlija held 5-4 leads over Sarah Ilioka in consecutive sets but the Hawai'i Pacific junior rallied each time to defeat Segetlija at the number five spot 7-5, 7-5 to clinch the win.

Taylor Gray was even at one set apiece with Nicole Ballach at No. 5 when the match ended. 

Doubles
No. 1 – Marleen Tilgner/Mihoki Miyahara def. Ashley Ramirez/Taylor Gray 6-1
No. 2 – Casie Curry/Lea Cizeron def. Elodie Busson/Heloise Le Normand 6-3
No. 3 – Sarah Ikioka/Nicole Ballach def. Emilija Visic/Juliette Mary 6-4
 
Singles
No. 1 – Lea Cizeron def. Elodie Busson 6-3, 6-1
No. 2 – No. 43 Casie Curry def. Marleen Tilgner 6-2, 6-3
No. 3 – Mihoki Miyahara def. Ashley Ramirez 6-1, 6-2
No. 4 – Heloise Le Normand def. Emilija Visic 6-0, 6-1
No. 5 – Sarah Ikioka def. Emilija Segetlija 7-5, 7-5
No. 6 – Taylor Gray vs Nicole Ballach 2-6, 6-3, 3-4 (Unfinished)
 
Order of finish: Doubles (1, 2, 3); Singles (3, 4, 1, 2, 5)
 
UP NEXT
Midwestern State returns to the courts on Thursday, March 5 to battle Metro State. First serve is scheduled for 4 p.m.