BOLIVAR, Mo. – Midwestern State's five match winning streak was struck down on Saturday by Northwest Missouri State. The Bearcats upset the No. 20 Mustangs 4-2 in a close non-conference match at Cooper Tennis Complex.

The match started with a narrow escape on the doubles side. At number two doubles, Andrea Zamurri and Franco Oliva fronted Ben Westwick and Angel Palacios 6-1.

Alex Martinez Roca and Alexandre Crepy fought for the point with their 6-4 win at number one doubles. They overcame Martin Sanchez and Fillippo Piranomonte. The Mustang doubles pair put up a three win streak with the victory.

Northwest Missouri sealed the deal with the win at number three doubles. Faubien Calloud and Agustin Velasco narrowly won over Brice Bradshaw and Quentin Scharfenberg. The two fell 6-7.

Ahead by one point, the two teams started singles play.

NWMSU took another point at number two singles. Westwick fell to Calloud 3-6, 5-7. The Bearcats grabbed a third point when Zamurri took down No. 43 Roca in three sets at number one doubles. Zamurri had the first set 6-2 and Roca made the second 6-4. Zamurri finished with a 6-0 score in the final set.

Down 3-0, MSU had some work to do in order to catch up and prevent the easy win for Northwest Missouri.

Next up, No. 5 Palacios found the Mustangs' first point at number three singles. He beat Piranomonte 6-4 and 10-8 in a superset tiebreaker. Palacios has won his last six singles matches, beginning March 5, 2021.

Crepy followed up with an upset over No. 35 Oliva. Crepy took both sets with a score of 6-4, 7-5. This is the freshman's six straight singles win this season and second time beating a ranked opponent.

Now Midwestern State sat only one point behind NWMSU with a 2-3 score. Unfortunately, the Bearcats were able to clinch the win with a victory at number five singles. Sanchez overcame Scharfenberg in a closely matched three sets. Scharfenberg grabbed the first 6-4. Sanchez then came back to win set two, 6-4 and set three, 6-0.

Number six singles went unfinished as Northwest Missouri turned in the 4-2 win.

Midwestern State will start Lone Star Conference play in their next few matches. They start with Dallas Baptist on Friday, March 19, at Arlington Tennis Center. First serve is set for 11 a.m.