TYLER, Texas – No. 12-ranked Midwestern State fell to No. 3-ranked West Alabama on Friday, 5-2, in the first of three dual-matches against Gulf South Conference opponents in Tyler this weekend.
Midwestern State fell to 3-2 for the season, while West Alabama upped its record to 5-2.
The Tigers got the early advantage by winning the doubles point as Alexa Milliam and Shaira Rivera upended
Emilia Gyorgy and
Selin Sepken at No. 1 doubles, 6-4. Gyorgy and Sepkin suffered their first loss in five matches.
Nanoka Kazama and Greta Zawels gave West Alabama a 6-1 triumph over
Alessia Dolce and
Mala Krzanic-Sullivan at No. 3 doubles.
Camila Garcia and
Jasmine Crain pulled out a 7-5 victory at No. 2 doubles, defeating Valentina Mutilba and Jenaila Prulla. Garcia and Crain are 5-0 to start the season.
No. 10-ranked Sepken improved to 4-1 at No. 1 singles with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Rivera to get the Mustangs their first point of the day after Jian Ibrahim defeated Crain at No. 4 singles, 6-4, 6-4.
Garcia remained undefeated at No. 3 singles, with a 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 victory over Multiba at No. 3 singles. Garcia has posted seven straight singles victories, including two wins in exhibitions, and she is 10-1, including matches played during the fall campaign.
Milliam, ranked No. 6 in singles, fended off a challenge from No. 42-ranked Gyorgy and won the match, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. Gyorgy fell to 2-3 at No. 2 singles for the Mustangs.
Hattie Berend, a junior from Wichita Falls, made her season debut for MSU at No. 6 singles but lost to Kazama Nanoka, 6-2, 6-1.
Dolce fell to 2-2 for the season with a 4-6, 5-7 loss to Prulla at No. 5 singles.
The Mustangs look for a return to the win column on Saturday as they meet No. 25-ranked Auburn Montgomery. On Sunday, Midwestern State tangles with No. 2-ranked West Florida.
-- MSUMustangs.com --
