4-0 sweep sends Mustangs to the GPAC Championship

SOUTH SIOUX CITY, NEB. – The Mustangs made it clear that they meant business as they took the courts at the First Serve Tennis Center in the Great Plains Athletic Conference postseason tournament semifinals today, defeating Midland 4-0. The Warriors had advanced to the semifinals via a 4-1 victory over Northwestern, while Morningside arrived via the bye as the no. 1 overall seed.

The Mustangs, ranked no. 5 in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings and no. 17 in the final National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics ratings, got to work in doubles, with Mathys Arnold and Jesse Gerth winning the no. 3 pairing 6-0 and Marcos Menendez Hervella and Alexis Diaz the no. 2 match 6-0 to take the doubles point.

Morningside's urgency continued in singles play, as Arnold won a quick 6-0, 6-0 victory and Diaz followed suit with a 6-1, 6-2 victory. Minetti's victory came on a slow start, yet he still pulled off the win 6-4, 6-1 to clinch the team victory.

The Mustangs will play at 11 a.m. on Saturday with the GPAC tournament title on the line, facing the winner of the second semifinal between Concordia and second seed Mount Marty.

Doubles

1. Mark Trenkle/Santiago Minetti vs Joren Stevens/Ben Starman 4-5 DNF

2. Marcos Menendez Hervella/Alexis Diaz def. Jaime de Diego/Andrew Hammer 6-2

3. Mathys Arnold/Jesse Gerth def. Martin Cisernos/Daniel Liebig 6-0

Order of finish: 3, 2

Singles

1. Mark Trenkle vs Joren Stevens 5-7

2. Marcos Menendez Hervella vs Ben Starman 6-2, 2-6, 1-3 DNF

3. Alexis Diaz def. Jaime de Diego 6-1, 6-2

4. Santiago Minetti def. Martin Cisernos 6-4, 6-1

5. Mathys Arnold def. Andrew Hammer 6-0, 6-0

6. Jesse Gerth vs Daniel Liebig 6-4, 4-4 DNF

Order of finish: 5, 3, 4