TYLER, Texas -- Midwestern State took down defending NJCAA national champion Tyler Junior College 4-3 Friday morning at the Joann Medlock Murphy Tennis Center.

And the Mustangs accomplished the task in a most unlikely way by winning four singles matches.

Tyler JC, who has won four of the last five NJCAA titles and 21 overall, took the early lead by edging the Mustangs at the top two doubles' positions.

But the Mustangs quickly gained footing in singles with senior Alice Di Matteo taking a 6-3, 6-2 win over NJCAA No. 16-ranked Yeva Kramarova at No. 3 singles.

Senior Amelia Lawson gave MSU a 2-1 advantage with an impressive 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 win over No. 7-ranked Zoi Spyrou at No. 1 singles.

Sophomore Hannah Yip put the Mustangs on the brink outlasting TJC's Sydney Stone 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 taking the tiebreaker 7-3 at No. 2.

MSU junior Emilija Visic battled back after falling 6-2 in the first set to No. 16-ranked Yeva Kononovych to force a deciding set with a 6-4 win in the second. But Kononovych survived a third-set breaker at 7-5 to extend the match.

The Apaches drew even with a win at No. 6 singles before junior Skylar Minns closed the door with a 6-0, 6-4 victory over Hrudaya Shah at the No. 5 position.

The Mustangs managed its third win in 10 tries against the junior college powerhouse. MSU advanced to the NCAA Division II Round of 16 in previous seasons after beating the Apaches in 2014 and 2019.

Midwestern State takes on two strong junior college programs Saturday at the MSU Tennis Center. The Mustangs play Cowley College at 10 a.m. and Collin College at 3.
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