Win Over Mustangs Earns Men's Tennis A Spot in NCAA Regional Finals

ARLINGTON, Texas - For the first time since the 2016-17 season, the St. Mary's Men's Tennis team earned an NCAA Division II South Central Regional victory as the Rattlers defeated Midwestern State on Friday by a score of 4-1. The win over the Mustangs marks the first time in program history St. Mary's has defeated Midwestern State. 

The boys were very aggressive in the doubles and it carried over into the singles fortunately," said St. Mary's Director of Tennis Bill Macom. "They put every ounce of energy into tracking down every ball in singles and that was the difference, keeping the pressure on Midwestern State."

Jeremiah Sanchez and James Finnigan put the Rattlers in a great spot, winning No. 1 doubles, 6-3. The Mustangs won at the No. 2 line, putting the pressure on the three's. Nicolas Llosa and Leon Hein did not waiver as the duo won 6-2 to put St. Mary's out in front 1-0. 

Finnigan gave the Rattlers a 2-0 lead with a 6-3, 6-4 victory at No. 5 singles. Midwestern State picked up a victory at No. 2 singles but Llosa cruised to a 6-1, 6-1 victory at No. 4 to give St. Mary's a 3-1 advantage. 

Sanchez, the Lone Star Conference Player of the Year came up with a huge win just as he has all year at the No. 1 line. Sanchez clinched the match for the Rattlers as he took out Alex Martinez Roca, 6-4, 6-2. Sanchez's undefeated singles seasons remains intact as the graduate student is now 16-0 on the season. 

St. Mary's advances to take on top-seeded Cameron University tomorrow at 2 p.m. The Rattlers knocked off Cameron earlier in the season with a 4-3 victory against the Aggies in Lawton.