History-Making Mustangs Head to Quarterfinals with 4-3 Victory over Xavier

Photo Courtesy of the NAIA - Haley Ames Photography

MOBILE, Ala. – For the second time in as many days, the Morningside men's tennis team ventured into uncharted territory, as they became the first Great Plains Athletic Conference team, men's or women's, to ever reach the quarterfinals of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Tennis Championship following an upset of sixth-seeded Xavier, 4-3.

The Mustangs came through in the no. 2 and no. 3 doubles pairs, as Santiago Minetti and Gabriel Whiston won 6-4 and Mathys Arnold and Jesse Gerth won 6-2 to claim the doubles point. 

Morningside's strength up and down the lineup showed in singles play, as Xavier took the top two matches, but a strong push down Morningside's lineup was able to lift the Mustangs to victory. 

Arnold picked up a win in the no. 3 singles match, 6-1 6-4, to advance Morningside's case and Whiston added a 6-0, 6-1 win at no. 6, to place all eyes on the no. 5 match with the score tied, 3-3.

Minetti responded to the pressure, picking up a win in his opening set 6-1 before falling 3-6 in set two. The junior stayed focused, and delivered a 6-1 walkoff win to extend Morningside's season.

The Mustangs are scheduled to play no. 3 seed Keiser tomorrow at 9 a.m. in the NAIA quarterfinal round.

DOUBLES

1. Nereo Suarez/Christian Sanchez def. Marcos Menendez Hervella/Alexis Diaz 6-3

2. Santiago Minetti/Gabriel Whiston def. Emmanuel Jebutu/Edilson Rosa 6-4

3. Mathys Arnold/Jesse Gerth def. Martin Rivera/Gabriel Velez 6-2

SINGLES

1. Nereo Suarez def. Marcos Menendez Hervella 7-6 (7-0), 6-3

2. Christian Sanchez def. Alexis Diaz 6-1, 6-4

3. Mathys Arnold def. Emmanuel Jebutu 6-1, 6-4

4. Gabriel Velez def. Jesse Gerth 6-3, 6-3

5. Santiago Minetti def. Edilson Rosa 6-1, 3-6, 6-1

6. Gabriel Whiston def. Martin Rivera 6-0, 6-1