TYLER, Texas -- Midwestern State improved to 9-1 for the season with its sixth win over a team ranked in the ITA Collegiate Top 25 rankings, defeating No. 12-ranked West Alabama at the UT Tyler Invitational on Sunday, 5-2.

The Mustangs swept through three ranked teams in the three days, capped off by their victory over the Tigers, who won the doubles point to start the day.

Valentina Mutilba and Shaira Rivera are the No. 1-ranked doubles pairing in the nation, and they defeated the Mustangs dynamic duo of Jessica Binzari and Anda Ghinga at No. 1 doubles, 6-4, after Sydney Williams and Sarah Mazaraki had posted a 6-2 victory at No. 3 doubles for MSU. Lolita Gukasian and Greta Zowels clinched the point for West Alabama with a 6-4 triumph over Hannah Yip and Camila Garcia at No. 2 doubles.

Binzari, ranked No. 6 in singles, wasted little time pulling the Mustangs even with a 6-1, 4-1 (ret.) victory over Shaira Rivera at No. 1 singles.

Ghinga plowed through Greta Zowels at No. 4 singles, 6-1, 6-0, and the Mustangs had a 2-1 lead in the dual match.

No. 8-ranked Sofia Giraldo posted a 6-4, 6-1 victory Lolita Gukasian at No. 3 singles, and Williams clinched the dual-match victory for the Stang Gang with a 6-2, 6-0 pasting of Abrianna Irvin at No. 6 singles.

Garcia continued her impressive play at No. 5 singles with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Ximena Ku. Hannah Yip took the first set from Valentina Mutilba, but the Tiger rallied for a 4-6, 6-2, 7-5 triumph at No. 2 singles.

Midwestern State is home on Friday afternoon for a dual match at MSU Tennis Center with Northwest Missouri State. The action begins at 2 p.m.
  Read Full Article