WICHITA FALLS, Texas -- No. 8-ranked Midwestern State quickly put to rest any thought of a repeat of its loss to Dallas Baptist two weeks ago in the Lone Star Conference semifinals Friday afternoon at the MSU Tennis Center.

Even with the Patriots rallying to take the final two doubles matches to earn a 1-0 advance and momentum into singles, the Mustangs proved more than ready.

MSU streaked to straight-set wins in the first four singles' matches to roll to a 4-1 win over DBU, punching its ticket to the Sweet 16 and the NCAA Division II Women's Tennis Championships from May 21-25 at Sanlando Park Tennis Center in Altamonte Springs, Florida.

Midwestern State returns to the Round of 16 for the first time since 2019.

The Mustangs (20-4) also reached 20 wins for the eighth time in program history and for the first time since going 21-7 in 2019.

Dallas Baptist edged the Mustangs on the doubles' court for the third time this season.

After No. 21-ranked Jessica Binzari and Anda Ghinga combined for a 6-4 win over No. 20-ranked Isabella Rios and Sofia Teran at No. 1 doubles, the Patriots rallied from deficits to claim victories at the other two positions.

Caroline Hudson and Madalyn Smelley recovered from a 3-0 deficit to beat MSU's Shreya Chakraborty and Hannah Yip, 6-4, at No. 2, then Sarah Castleberry and Jenna Payne came from a break down to beat Sarah Mazaraki and Sydney Williams at No. 3, 7-5.

But the Mustangs wasted little time seizing momentum in singles.

Yip, ranked No. 41 in the latest ITA singles' rankings, blitzed Smelley, 6-0, 6-1, at No. 3 singles to level the match at 1-1.

Binzari, ranked 14th in ITA singles, used a big serve and a bigger forehand to rout Hudson -- 6-1, 6-3 -- at No. 1 just before Ghinga, ranked 31st, avenged her loss to Leonie Schondelmaier in the LSC semifinals at 6-0, 6-3.

Freshman Sofia Giraldo flipped the script on DBU's Isabella Rios at No. 4 singles. Two weeks ago on Dallas Baptist's home courts at the Arlington Tennis Center, it was Rios who finished off the Patriots' 4-0 upset of Midwestern State with a 6-2, 7-5 win.

Giraldo jumped out to take the first set 7-5, then staved off four set points to win in a tiebreaker 7-6 (9-7) in the second set to seal the victory on the Round of 32.

Midwestern State extended its run of wins at home for the Round of 32 to seven.

Angelo State defeated Cameron, 4-2, in the South Central Regional 2 Friday afternoon.

The Mustangs and Rambelles await seeding from the NCAA Division II Women's Tennis Championship Committee. Pairings for the Round of 16 will be announced early next week.
 
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