OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - 5th ranked Angel Palacios won a set from top ranked Alejandro Ibanez Gallego, but Midwestern State fell, 4-0, to No. 1 Barry (Fla.) on Friday night in the quarterfinals of the ITA Indoor Team Championship held at the Oklahoma City Tennis Center. 

Palacios took the first set from Ibanez Gallego 6-4 before falling in the second set 6-2. The Buccaneers clinched the win before the third set could be completed. 

"Angel (Palacios) is competing better and better each team match," MSU Texas head coach Scott Linn said. "As a senior, he has more responsibilities leading this program. I am sure he will only get better as the season goes on."

The Mustangs and Barry (Fla.) traded shots in doubles.

MSU Texas' top tandem of Palacios/Ben Westwick earned a 6-3 win over Ibanez Gallego/Carlos Gomez and Barry's number three duo of Ignasi Forcano/Martin Gutierrez recorded a 6-3 decision against Jean Muniz/Brice Bradshaw. At number two, Alessandro Giuliato/Tim Buttner won the deciding doubles match 7-6 (7-4) over Alberto Diaz/Alex Martinez Roca to secure the first point of the match for the defending national champions. 

In singles action, Forcano notched a 6-1, 6-0 win at number six over Jean Muniz and Arnau Rodriguez upended Alexandre Crepy 6-1, 6-3 on the number five line to give the Buccaneers a commanding 3-0 lead. 

"You have to play these matches if you want to make it to nationals at the end of the year," Linn said. "Tough for a freshman to come in the spring and start, but I am sure Alexandre (Crepy) will figure it out."

No. 42 Alejandro Ortega Palacios clinched the win for Barry (Fla.) and a spot in Saturday's semifinals with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Diaz at number four.  

"We played MSU Texas tennis tonight," Linn said. "We fought, showed energy, tough in doubles, and played as a team, just not quite where we need to be. Barry is a very talented team with guys at the top that won nationals last year, so they were pretty calm when we started controlling matches. Most teams would not have been."

In other unfinished matches, Pierre Montriel held a 6-2, 6-5 lead over Westwick at number two and No. 10 Giuliato and No. 43 Martinez Roca split the first two sets at number three. 

Doubles
No. 1 – Angel Palacios/Ben Westwick def. Alejandro Ibanez Gallego/Carlos Gomez 6-3
No. 2 – Alessandro Giuliato/Tim Buttner def. Alberto Diaz/Alex Martinez Roca 7-6 (7-4)
No. 3 – Ignasi Forcano/Martin Gutierrez def/ Jean Muniz/Brice Bradshaw 6-3
 
Singles
No. 1 – No. 5 Angel Palacios vs No. 1 Alejandro Ibanez Gallego 6-4, 2-6 (Unfinished)
No. 2 – Pierre Montriel vs Ben Westwick 6-2, 6-5 (Unfinished)
No. 3 – No. 43 Alex Martinez Roca vs No. 10 Alessandro Giuliato 2-6, 5-2, (Unfinished)
No. 4 – No. 42 Alejandro Ortega Palacios def. Alberto Diaz 6-3, 6-4
No. 5 – Arnau Rodriguez def. Alexandre Crepy 6-1, 6-3
No. 6 – Ignasi Forcano def. Jean Muniz 6-1, 6-0
 
Order of finish: Doubles (1, 3, 2); Singles (6, 5, 4)

UP NEXT
The Mustangs return to the courts on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. in a consolation round match against No. 4 Wingate.