TYLER, Texas -- Juan David Duque clinched a 4-3 victory over Auburn-Montgomery at the UT Tyler Invitational as No. 19-ranked Midwestern State won the first of three duals and improved to 3-1 for the season. The Mustangs face No. 2-ranked West Florida on Saturday morning at 11 a.m. before closing out the event on Sunday against West Alabama.
Duque defeated Mark Nawa at No. 6 singles, 6-4, 6-3, to secure the victory for the Mustangs, who fell to the Warhawks in doubles to start the day.
Dominik Vonbank and Augustin Wallaert edged
Bruno Sanchez and
Justin Van Amerongen at No. 2 doubles, 7-6 (6) to give Auburn-Montgomery the early advantage after securing a 6-3 victory at No. 1 doubles as Giuseppe Bonaiuti and Jami Savolainen upended
Stephen Slocombe and
Filip Vacula, 6-3.
Philip Kamara and
Jose Marquez pulled out a 6-3 victory for MSU at No. 2 doubles against Nawa and Raphael Pertusier.
Slocombe won the first point for the Midwestern State with a see-saw victory over Jami Savolainen at No. 3 singles, 6-1, 1-6, 6-1.
Marquez gave the Mustangs the lead with a 7-6 (8), 6-0, win over Pertusier at No. 4 singles.
Sanchez forced a third set against Vonbank at No. 2 singles, but fell 6-7 (5), 6-0, 3-6 as the Warhawks pulled even in the dual match.
Kamara breezed to a 6-2, 6-0 triumph over Wallaert at No. 5 singles, and the Mustangs were one win away from a team victory.
Vacula was locked in a tight battle with Giuseppe Bonaiuti at No. 1 singles, and the Warhawk prevailed, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-4.
The outcome was determined by the result at No. 6 singles, and the No. 29-ranked player from Colombia came through for the Mustangs with a straight-set victory. Duque improved to 2-0 at No. 6 singles.
The Mustangs look to avenge a 4-0 loss to West Florida last year in Tyler as the two schools meet for the eighth time on Saturday. West Florida leads the series, 6-1.
-- MSUMustangs.com --
