KEARNEY, Neb. – After early losses to quality opponents Saturday, the MSU Denver tennis teams bounced back and took care of business later in the day with victories.
 
Midwestern State (Texas) edged the Roadrunners' men 4-3, and beat the women 4-1. Later, the MSU Denver men cruised past Newman (Kan.) 6-1, and the women sailed past Doane (Neb.) 7-0.
 
"I'm proud of both teams today, even though some things didn't go our way," MSU Denver coach Josh Graetz said.
 
The best dual of the day was between the Roadrunners' men and Midwestern State.
 
After narrowly losing the doubles point in a pair of 6-4 setbacks, the Roadrunners earned wins at the top three singles positions. But Midwestern State rallied to win the final three singles matches to clinch the dual.

Jeanloup Auzias, who teamed with Billy McDermott to win 7-5 in No. 2 doubles, won his No. 1 singles match 6-3, 6-3. Alejandro Jimenez rallied to win at No. 2 singles 0-6, 6-3, 6-4, and Juho Kantola won at No. 3 singles 7-5, 7-5.

"The men found themselves up 3-1 and didn't quite have the x-factor to finish the job against a solid program in Midwestern," Graetz said. "We just need to handle that situation differently next time we find ourselves there."
 
Against Newman, the Roadrunners won two of the three doubles matches to pick up the point, and then earned wins at all but No. 4 singles. Freshman Stephen Kossifas, playing No. 6 singles, earned his first career victory, 6-2, 6-2.

"I was proud of the way we took care of business against Newman," Graetz said. "This is a team we beat 4-3 last spring and they have all their returners and a solid newcomer. To beat them convincingly shows we are on the right path."
 
For the women, though the doubles matches were all close against Midwestern State, the Roadrunners' lone victory was by Isabel Heras and Kinsey Fields at No. 1, 6-4.
 
After dropping the doubles point, the Roadrunners' only singles win was by Fields at No. 2, 6-4, 5-7, 6-3. Marie Cool was beaten in three sets at No. 3 (6-2, 4-6, 6-2) and Hanna Haber played a close match at No. 4, falling 6-4, 6-4.

"The ladies didn't execute as well as we would have liked in doubles against Midwestern," Graetz said. "We do a better job there, and that would have helped us more going into singles. Kinsey battled and had a great win in singles."
 
Doane, an NAIA program, was no match for the women in the second dual. The Tigers managed to win only five games in the doubles matches (the No. 1 result was 6-4), and won only six games in six singles matches, the closest of which was Lilly Stienemeier's 6-1, 6-1 win at No. 3.

"Doane made us work a little harder than we would have liked in the 1 doubles position, but once we got past that match, we never looked back as a team," Graetz said.
 
Both MSU Denver teams will play Augustana (S.D.) on Sunday at 11 a.m. MST.