TYLER, Texas – Midwestern State won it first of three dual matches in Tyler this weekend by defeating West Alabama, 5-2 on Friday morning.
Senior
Matthew Earle of Ireland clinched the dual-match victory for the Mustangs with a 6-2, 6-4 triumph at No. 5 singles, defeating Federico Iturbe, 6-2, 6-4.
Midwestern State (3-2) improved to 3-0 in its all-time series with West Alabama.
Earle and
Germano Setti, the No. 16-ranked pairing in NCAA Division II, secured the doubles point for the Mustangs with a 6-2 victory over Gabriel Garay and Sebastiao Vilas at the No. 2 position. Earle and Setti have won their last three matches in doubles and improved to 4-1 for the season.
Setti, ranked No. 7 in singles, improved to 4-0 at No. 1 singles with a 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 win over Garay.
Bruno Sanchez was also pushed to three sets at No. 2 singles but defeated Jacob Tapia, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Sanchez and
Juan David Duque are ranked No. 11 in doubles and started the day for MSU with a 6-2 win over Iturbe and Tapia at No. 1 doubles.
Duque, ranked No. 33 in singles, suffered a 6-1, 6-2 loss to Afonso Portugal at No. 3 singles.
Freshman
Cesar Loeches Llamas of Spain earned his first collegiate victory over an NCAA Division II opponent by defeating Vilas at No. 6 singles, 6-3, 6-1.
Llamas and senior
Jose Marquez completed a sweep in doubles with a 7-5 triumph over Portugal and Maksim Goncharov at No. 3 doubles.
Marquez lost a three-set battle with Goncharov in singles, 6-2, 6-7 (5), 6-4. Marquez is 3-2 at No. 4 singles for the Mustangs.
Midwestern State meets Auburn Montgomery on its second day in Tyler before facing No. 2-ranked West Florida on Sunday.
-- MSUMustangs.com --
