OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – The Mustangs meet the defending national champions and No. 1 Barry (Fla.) on Friday in the quarterfinals of the ITA Indoor Team Championship. First serve is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Friday, Feb. 28
Match 1: Hawaii Pacific vs. Flagler College, 8 a.m.
Match 2: Columbus State vs. Saint Leo, 11 a.m.
Match 3: West Florida vs. Wingate, 2:30 p.m.
Match 4: Barry vs. Midwestern State, 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 29
Match 5: Match 1 loser vs. Match 2 loser, 8 a.m.
Match 6: Match 1 winner vs. Match 2 winner, 11 a.m.
Match 7: Match 3 loser vs. Match 4 loser, 2:30 p.m.
Match 8: Match 3 winner vs. Match 4 winner, 5:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 1
Seventh Place Match: Match 5 loser vs. Match 7 loser, 8 a.m.
Fifth Place Match: Match 5 winner vs. Match 7 winner, 11 a.m.
Championship Match: Match 6 winner vs. Match 8 winner, 2:30 p.m.
Third Place Match: Match 6 loser vs. Match 8 loser, 5:30 p.m.

ABOUT THE ITA INDOOR TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
From the ITA website, "the top 7 teams from the 2019 Final Oracle/ITA Division II National Rankings received an invite with one spot reserved for Midwestern State University. In the case of a decline, the next team in the rankings is selected until the field of eight is solidified."

COMPETITORS
The eight team field features No. 1 Barry (Fla.), No. 2 Columbus State (Ga.), No. 3 University of West Florida, No. 4 Wingate (N.C.), No. 5 St. Leo (Fla.), No. 9 Hawai'i Pacific, and No. 14 Flagler College (Fla.), plus the host Midwestern State. The Mustangs opened the season No. 15 in the initial rankings before dropping out of the top 25.

LOTS OF FIRE POWER
Five of the top 10 singles players in the country will compete at the ITA Indoor Team Championship, including No. 1 Alejandro Ibanez Gallego (Barry) and No. 2 Alvaro Regalado (Columbus State). Midwestern State's own Angel Palacios is ranked No. 5 while Daniel Busto (Wingate) slots in at No. 6 and Alessandro Giuliato of Barry is No. 10.

SERIES HISTORY
This will be just the second meeting between Midwestern State and Barry (Fla.) in men's tennis and the first since 2005 when the Buccaneers came away with a 5-2 win. 

BRADSHAW'S BRINGING IT
Brice Bradshaw has started his collegiate career with three straight wins, all on the No. 6 line. The Hoover, Alabama native is the only Mustang with an unblemished record this season.

RANKED STANGS'
Angel Palacios is No. 5 in the country in singles while Alex Martinez Roca is No. 43. Palacios is off to a 4-3 record in singles this spring while Martinez Roca is 2-2.

STOP THE SLIDE
Midwestern State has dropped two matches in a row, the second time this season the Mustangs have lost back-to-back matches. MSU Texas has not lost three matches in a row since the 2016 season when the Mustangs lost to Dartmouth (N.H.), No. 7 Saint Leo (Fla.), and No. 2 Hawai'i Pacific.

SCOUTING THE BUCCANEERS
Barry (Fla.) has played just two matches this season and won them both, defeating St. Thomas (Fla.), 7-0, and No. 14 Flagler (Fla.), 6-1. The defending national champions have made the last three NCAA Finals, posting a 1-2 mark. In singles, Alejandro Ibanez Gallego is ranked No. 1 in the country after finishing 13-1 last season, including a 2-0 mark at the number one spot. Alessandro Giuliato is No. 10 in singles. The junior was 14-0 last season at the number two spot. Other ranked Buccaneers include Carlos Gomez (No. 37 - singles) and Alejandro Ortega Palacios (No. 42 - singles).

CATCHING UP WITH COACH LINN
Scott Linn enters his 10th season at the helm of the Midwestern State men's and women's tennis teams. Since arriving in the fall of 2010, Linn coached teams have made 15 total NCAA Tournament appearances. 
 
UP NEXT
More ITA Indoor Team Championship Tennis on Saturday.