KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Both the MSU Denver men's and women's tennis teams cruised to victories over Rockhurst (Mo.) on Tuesday as they reached the halfway point of their four-day sojourn through Kansas and Missouri.
 
The Roadrunners' women (7-8) posted three three-set singles victories after getting the doubles point by winning all three of those matches as well for a 4-0 win.
 
"I'm really happy for the girls," MSU Denver coach Josh Graetz said. "They beat a really good team today. They came out and competed at a high level from the start of the match. They continue to show improvement in doubles, which helps tremendously if we can come out ahead going into singles."
 
The men (4-7) won two of three doubles matches for that point and also picked up victories in the top three singles positions for a 4-1 victory.
 
"The guys' match was a little closer than what the score line may suggest," Graetz said. "In the tight and tough moments we battled better, which was great to see. I'm excited to continue watching them develop."
 
Tabitha Porter, Alex Pessoa and Helena Steenberg won at Nos. 1, 2 and 3 singles, respectively, to lead the MSU Denver women. Pessoa and Steenberg had teamed up to win their No. 1 doubles contest, while Porter was paired with Mackenize Hotan to win at No. 2 doubles.
 
Daniel Llorente and Alejandro Martinez-Morilla were double winners for the MSU Denver men. Martinez-Morilla combined with David Kijak to win at No. 2 doubles 7-6, and then won his No. 3 singles matchup 6-1, 7-5. Llorente and Kacey Walisundara won at No. 3 doubles 7-5, and then Llorente outlasted Masao Perret 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 at No. 2 singles.
 
Both teams have won both of their duals on the trip, and will cruise into Maryville, Mo., for a 9 a.m. MDT time matchup with Northwest Missouri State on Wednesday.
 
Tuesday's results:
 
MEN
MSU Denver 4, Rockhurst 1
Doubles
No. 1: Tarass Thevenaz/Martjn Eleveld (RU) def. Joey Tscherne/Mateo Besada 6-3
No. 2: David Kijak/Alejandro Martinez-Morilla (MSUD) def. Nicolas Leon/Masao Perret 7-6
No. 3: Daniel Llorente/Kacey Walisundara (MSUD) def. Santiago Rodriguez Villegas/Alex Bernadas 7-5

Singles
No. 1: Tscherne (MSUD) def. Thevenaz 6-3, 7-6
No. 2: Llorente (MSUD) def. Perret 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
No. 3: Martinez-Morilla (MSUD) def. Leon 6-1, 7-5
No. 4: Rodriguez Villegas (RU) vs. Besada 3-6, 6-4, DNF
No. 5: Eleveld (RU) vs. Kijak 2-6, 6-4, 2-3 DNF
No. 6: Ryan Moody (RU) def. Walisundara 6-0, 6-2

WOMEN
MSU Denver 4, Rockhurst 0
Doubles
No. 1: Octavia Mali/Sam Czarnecki (RU) def. Alex Pessoa/Helena Steenberg 6-3
No. 2: Tabitha Porter-Mackenzie Hotan (MSUD) def. Anilua Barraza-Paula Romero 6-4
No. 3: Olivia Kaiser/Eliza McKean (MSUD) def. Sara Flaxbeard/Emma Persson 6-2

Singles
No. 1: Porter (MSUD) def. Czarnecki 5-7, 6-1, 6-0
No. 2: Pessoa (MSUD) def. Barraza 6-2, 4-6, 7-5
No. 3: Steenberg (MSUD) def. Persson 6-2, 4-6, 6-3
No. 4: Malin (RU) vs. Kaiser 3-0 DNF
No. 5: Romero (RU) vs. McKean 1-1 DNF
No. 6: Flaxbeard (RU) def. Ainsley Winterrowd DNF