WICHITA FALLS, Texas – The Metropolitan State University of Denver men's and women's tennis teams faced stiff competition in their matches Friday with the men falling, 4-1, to both No. 17 Midwestern State (Texas) and Southern Arkansas, while the women were dealt 4-0 losses by both No. 14 Midwestern State and Angelo State (Texas) at Midwestern State Tennis Center.
 
"It was a tough day for both teams," coach Josh Graetz said. "We played against some quality teams that executed just a little better than us."
 
The MSU Denver men drop to 2-6 overall while the women are 5-6 on the year.
 
Daniel Llorente won both his singles matches to give the Roadrunners' men their points.
 
With the Roadrunners down 4-0, including a 3-0 sweep in doubles play, sophomore Llorente notched the Roadrunners' sole win against the Midwestern State in No. 2 singles when he defeated Dillon Pineda, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 in a close but thrilling finish.
 
MSU Denver's David Kijak faced Alberto Diaz in No. 5 singles and was actually leading in the second set, 3-1, before victory was officially declared to the Mustangs. Kijak fell in the first set 6-2.
 
The Roadrunners' Tscherne nearly defeated his opponent, Angel Palacios, in No. 1 singles. Though Tscherne took the first set, 6-4, Palacios came back in the second set, 6-3, and proceeded to defeat Tscherne, 7-6 (7-2), in the deciding third set.
 
Earlier in the day, in the Roadrunners match against the Muleriders, Tscherne and Mateo Besada defeated Alexandre Machaj and Yuri Gondouin with a slim victory of 7-6 (2).
 
Llorente defeated Marko Nikoliuk, 7-5, 6-3.
 
Tscherne (4-6, 7-5, 3-2, unfinished) trailed Stuart Rehfuss in No. 1 singles but won the first set in No. 1 singles. Alejandro Martinez-Morilla (5-7, 6-0, 2-5, unfinished) had a similar fate against Gondouin in No. 3 singles.
 
"The men could have easily come out on the right side of both matches today," Graetz said. "They continue to compete with such high energy and intensity, and I know if we maintain that, the results will start to turn our way."
 
The MSU Denver women closed out their Friday doubleheader on a tough note.
 
However, Tabitha Porter kept things interesting in both No. 1 doubles and No. 1 singles.
 
Porter, ranked No. 24 nationally, dropped her singles match to 16^th-ranked Maddy Coffman 7-5, 6-3. She and freshman Helena Steenberg faced Coffman. And Casie Currey in No. 1 doubles, losing 6-4.
 
The Roadrunners' women started the day against Angelo State.
 
Porter and Steenberg lost a close No. 1 doubles match to Valentina Gonzalez and Ena Ovcina 7-5.
 
In singles, both sophomore Alex Pessoa (No. 2) and freshman Olivia Kaiser (No. 6) took their respective opponents to an extra game before falling 7-5 in the first sets of their singles matches. Neither match concluded as Pessoa trailed, 4-1, while Kaiser was tied, 1-1, when the match was halted.
 
"The women are growing and learning every day," Graetz said. "We are also learning how to deal with adversity, which is important for our development moving forward."
 
Both MSU Denver tennis teams will travel to Lawton, Okla., for a dual match against Cameron (Okla.) on Saturday. The MSU Denver men will face No. 24 Cameron to close out their road trip while the MSU Denver women will continue its against the Aggies at Streich-Henry Tennis Complex on Saturday at 1 p.m. MST.
 
MEN
Southern Arkansas 4, MSU Denver 1
Doubles
1. Joey Tscherne/Mateo Besada (MSUD) def. Alexandre Machaj/Yuri Gondouin (SAU) 7-6 (2)
2. Stuart Rehfuss/Gustavo Kerber (SAU) def. David Kijak/Alejandro Martinez (MSUD) 6-2
3. Marko Nikoliuk/Natiphat Mulada (SAU) def. Daniel Llorente/Kacey Walisundara (MSUD) 6-2
 
Singles
1. Stuart Rehfuss (SAU) def. Joey Tscherne (MSUD) 4-6, 7-5, 3-2, unfinished
2. Daniel Llorente (MSUD) def. Marko Nikoliuk (SAU) 7-5, 6-3
3. Yuri Gondouin (SAU) def.  Alejandro Martinez (MSUD) 5-7, 6-0, 2-5, unfinished
4. Alexandre Machaj (SAU) def. Mateo Besada (MSUD) 6-3, 3-6, 6-2
5. Raymond Marin Garcia (SAU) def. David Kijak (MSUD) 6-3, 7-6
6. Natiphat Mulada (SAU) def. Kacey Walisundara (MSUD) 6-0, 6-0
 
 
#17 Midwestern State 4, MSU Denver 1
Doubles
1. Alberto Diaz/Ben Westwick (MSU) def. Joey Tscherne/Mateo Besada (MSUD) 6-3
2. Dillon Pineda/Nolan McCaig (MSU) def. David Kijak/Alejandro Martinez (MSUD) 6-4
3. Alex Martinez-Roca/Angel Palacios (MSU) def. Daniel Llorente/Kacey Walisundara (MSUD) 6-2
 
Singles
1. Angel Palacios (MSUT) def. Joey Tscherne (MSUD) 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-2)
2. Daniel Llorente (MSUD) def. Dillon Pineda (MSUT) 6-3, 3-6, 7-5
3. Nolan McCaig (MSUT) def. Alejandro Martinez (MSUD) 6-3, 7-6 (8-6)
4. Alex Martinez-Roca (MSUT) def. Mateo Besada (MSUD) 6-3, 6-4
5. Alberto Diaz (MSUT) vs. David Kijak (MSUD) 6-2, 1-3, unfinished
6. Ben Westwick (MSUT) vs. Kacey Walisundara (MSUD) 6-0, 2-0, unfinished
 
 
WOMEN
#14 Midwestern State 4, MSU Denver 0
Doubles
1. Maddy Coffman/Casie Curry (MSUT) def. Tabitha Porter/Helena Steenberg (MSUD) 6-4
2. Bianca Duff/Greta Lazzarotto (MSUT) def. Ainsley Winterrowd/Alex Pessoa (MSUD) 6-0
3. Lea Cizeron/Juliette Mary (MSUT) def. Mackenzie Hotan/Eliza McKean (MSUD) 6-1
 
Singles
1. Maddy Coffman (MSUT) def. Tabitha Porter (MSUD) 7-5, 6-3
2. Bianca Duff (MSUT) def. Alex Pessoa (MSUD) 6-0, 6-1
3. Lea Cizeron (MSUT) vs. Eliza McKean (MSUD) 6-3, 5-7, 3-4, unfinished
4. Greta Lazzarotto (MSUT) def. Helena Steenberg (MSUD) 6-3, 6-2
5. Juliette Mary (MSUT) vs. Ainsley Winterrowd (MSUD) 7-5, unfinished
6. Casie Curry (MSUT) vs. Olivia Kaiser (MSUD) 4-3, unfinished
 
 
Angelo State 4, MSU Denver 0
Doubles
1. Valentina Gonzalez/Ena Ovcina (ASU) def. Tabitha Porter/Helena Steenberg (MSUD) 7-5
2. Virginie Becht/Zoe Gubbels (ASU) def. Ainsley Winterrowd/Alex Pessoa (MSUD) 6-2
3. Lucie Maitrot/ Maria Delgadillo (ASU) def. Olivia Kaiser/Eliza McKean (MSUD) 6-2
Singles
1. Valentina Gonzalez (ASU) def. Tabitha Porter (MSUD) 6-0, 6-2
2. Ena Ovcina (ASU) def. Alex Pessoa (MSUD) 7-5, 4-1, unfinished
3. Maria Delgadillo (ASU) def. Helena Steenberg (MSUD) 6-4, 4-4, unfinished
4. Virginie Becht (ASU) def. Eliza McKean (MSUD) 6-2, 6-1
5. Zoe Gubbels (ASU) def. Ainsley Winterrowd (MSUD) 6-2, 6-1
6. Lucie Maitrot (ASU) def. Olivia Kaiser (MSUD) 7-5, 1-1, unfinished