Altamonte Springs, Fla. -- Midwestern State overcame stifling heat and a pesky side from Rockhurst to advance to the quarterfinals at the NCAA Division II Women's Tennis Championship at Sanlando Park on Wednesday afternoon.

Midwestern State improved to 22-3 on the season, and handed the Hawks their first lost in 13 duals as Rockhurst closed its season with an 18-6 record and two losses to the Mustangs, who won a season-opening encounter, 6-1.

Sophia Giraldo, ranked No. 32 in the nation among NCAA Division II players, clinched the 4-2 victory with a dramatic 6-0, 4-6, 6-3 victory over Marina Magai at No. 4 singles.

After cruising in the first set, the conditions began to take their toll on Giraldo, who fought through cramping to earn her 13th consecutive win for the Mustangs.

"The most challenging part of my match was to still keep my composure despite all the physical difficulties I was experiencing," Giraldo said.

Giraldo said she gained strength by having the support of her teammates. 

The experience was not anything new for the sophomore from Colombia. 

"It happened actually just like that in the same tournament last year," Giraldo said. 

Giraldo clinched a berth in the semifinals after fighting through similar conditions in a win over Wingate last year.

"If I'm not feeling as fit as the player in front of me, I will make sure that I'm tougher than her mentally," Giraldo said.

Midwestern State started the day by winning the doubles point. 

Hannah Yip and Camila Garcia dismissed Daniela Lentisco and Magai at No. 2 doubles, 6-1, while Sydney Williams and Sarah Mazaraki clinched the point with a 6-2 victory at the No. 3 position.

Interim head coach Vinicius Oliveira was impressed with the play of Garcia, a freshman from Colombia. 

"She did a really good job in doubles and singles — just being locked in the whole day," Oliveira said.

Garcia put MSU in front 2-0 with a 6-1, 6-1 pasting of Lentisco at No. 5 singles.

Yip rallied to win her singles match, defeating Sofia Valdespino at No. 2 singles, 7-5, 6-2, earning the third point of the day for Midwestern State.

Oliveira said Yip made a tactical change in the first set that paid off for the senior from Malaysia.

"Her opponent was running around the ball a lot, just wanting to hit forehands," Oliveira said. "Hannah came in more to hit more volleys and more angles, especially on the backhand side."

Eleanor Coleman, ranked No. 23 in the nation, upended sixth-ranked Jessica Binzari at No. 1 singles, and Zuzanna Szmyd earned the point at No. 3 singles for Rockhurst with a 6-3, 6-4 triumph over Anda Ghinga.

The result of the dual would depend on the outcome of No. 4 and No. 6 singles, where both Giraldo and Williams were facing opponents content to hit moon balls — high looping shots with little pace.

"That is something we prepare for," Oliveira said. "We know what teams are going to throw at us most of the time. Sofia did a really good job of being patient and building points."

Williams rallied to even her match at a set apiece just before Giraldo clinched the win for MSU.

"Sydney did not start out the match as strong as she wanted to, but she just figured out a way," Oliveira said.

While it appeared Rockhurst had captured momentum with a second set win at No. 4 singles and a long first-set win at No. 6 singles, Oliveira said he never believed his team was going to come up short.

"I never felt we were going to be defeated. The look in my girls' eyes told me they are not going to be defeated. They're going to find a way," Oliveira said.

Midwestern State will look to find a way against No. 11-seed Wayne State on Thursday morning in the quarterfinals. Wayne State eliminated sixth-seeded Dallas Baptist of the Lone Star Conference on Wednesday afternoon, 4-1. Only Emily Buchanan, the LSC Player of the Year, earned a point for the Patriots at No. 5 singles.

The quarterfinal match begins at 8 a.m. CDT on Thursday. The winner will face either Nova Southeastern or Azusa Pacific in the semifinals on Saturday morning. Read Full Article