Mustangs Pick Up Repeat Win over Bethel, 4-1
May 12, 2026

Mustangs Pick Up Repeat Win over Bethel, 4-1

MOBILE, Ala. – As the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics announced the first round pairings ahead of the NAIA Men’s Tennis National Championship, Morningside’s men’s tennis team’s outlook for the first round seemed as promising as ever, as the Mustangs were set to match up with Bethel, a team that it had defeated 4-3 earlier this season. 

Box Score

Photo Courtesy of the NAIA - Haley Ames Photography

MOBILE, Ala. – As the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics announced the first round pairings ahead of the NAIA Men's Tennis National Championship, Morningside's men's tennis team's outlook for the first round seemed as promising as ever, as the Mustangs were set to match up with Bethel, a team that it had defeated 4-3 earlier this season. 

Morningside's match came a couple hours later than originally scheduled, but the Mustangs' stayed focused, claiming the first win at the tennis national championship in program and in Great Plains Athletic Conference history, defeating the Threshers 4-1.

In a reversal of when the two teams met in March, Morningside took the advantage early, claiming the doubles point with wins by Marcos Menendez Hervella and Alexis Diaz, 7-5, and Mathys Arnold and Jesse Gerth, 6-4. Santiago Minetti and Gabriel Whiston held a 6-5 advantage when the point was clinched.

In singles play, Morningside's three crucial wins came in the no. 1, no. 2, and no. 5 positions. Menendez Hervella came back from a 5-7 loss in the first set to win 6-2, 6-4 to pick up his second singles win over Bethel this spring. Diaz was able to flip the script on his opponent from the previous meeting, winning 6-4, 6-4.

As was the case last time these two teams met, Whiston's match served as the deciding point, with his no. 6 singles match finishing sixth at First Serve back in March. The freshman checked in fourth today with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 win to send Morningside on to the second round.

Morningside will play Xavier, the no. 6 seed, tomorrow at 9 a.m.

 

DOUBLES

  1. Marcos Menendez Hervella/Alexis Diaz def. Petr Kollar/Zaidh Zihar 7-5

  2. Santiago Minetti/Gabriel Whiston vs. Billy Haoda/Jorge Batista DNF 6-5 

  3. Mathys Arnold/Jesse Gerth def. Jonah Bergeron/Adam Tomka 6-4

Order of finish: 3, 1

SINGLES

  1. Marcos Menendez Hervella def. Jorge Batista 5-7, 6-2, 6-4

  2. Alexis Diaz def. Petr Kollar 6-4, 6-4

  3. Mathys Arnold vs. Billy Haoda DNF 1-6, 6-3, 2-4 

  4. Jesse Gerth vs. Rodrigo Sanchez DNF 2-6, 7-5, 0-3

  5. Zaidh Zihar def. Santiago Minetti 6-1, 6-4

  6. Gabriel Whiston def. Adam Tomka 6-4, 3-6, 6-2

Order of finish: 2, 1, 5, 6