WICHITA FALLS, Texas -- No. 1-ranked Midwestern State is hosting three dual matches at MSU Tennis Center this week. Northwest Missouri State is tangling with the Stangs at 2 p.m. on Friday. Newman squares off with MSU on Saturday at 2 p.m. and Arkansas-Fort Smith faces Midwestern State on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Midwestern State is No. 1 in the ITA Collegiate Tennis Rankings for the first time in the history of the program.

The Mustangs have started the season with an impressive 9-1 record, including six victories over top-25 programs. The only loss was to the defending national champions from Barry, which is ranked No. 3 in the latest ITA rankings with a 6-0 record.

Midwestern State owns victories against No. 2-ranked North Georgia (7-2), No. 8-ranked Washburn (4-1), No. 18-ranked West Florida (6-1), No. 19-ranked West Alabama (4-1), No. 20-ranked Auburn Montgomery (4-2) and No. 21-ranked Lynn (4-3).

Jessica Binzari is ranked No. 5 in singles among NCAA Division II players. Including her record during the fall campaign, the senior from Romania is 18-2 overall. Binzari has a four-match winning streak and is 7-1 during the dual-match season.

Sophomore Sofia Giraldo is ranked No. 14 in singles with a 16-7 record, including her results from the fall campaign.

Binzari and Anda Ghinga are ranked No. 7 in doubles with a 13-5 record, including results from the fall season.

Northwest Missouri State is 2-2 this season and is coming off a 4-2 victory at UMSL on March 2.

The Bearcats are led by Marielena Muench, who is ranked No. 53 in singles. Muench and Camilla Franzin are also ranked No. 28 in doubles. Muench is 4-3 in singles action this year. Muench and Franzin are 3-1 at No. 1 doubles.
Newman is 2-7 in dual matches this year and is coming off a 5-2 loss to Augustana in Kansas City last week. The Jets play Cameron on Friday in Lawton, Oklahoma, before arriving at MSU Tennis Center on Saturday.

Former Lone Star Conference foe Arkansas-Fort Smith faces UT Tyler and Cameron before meeting the Mustangs on Sunday. The Lions lost their first seven dual matches of the season and have lost all 15 previous encounters with Midwestern State, which coasted to a 7-0 victory in their final meeting as conference adversaries last year.

Midwestern State opens conference play at MSU Tennis Center on March 18 as Cameron visits the Mustangs for a 2 p.m. dual match.