WICHITA FALLS, Texas - The University of Texas Permian Basin men's tennis team advanced to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen after holding off Midwestern State in a 4-3 instant classic on Monday at the MSU Tennis Center in Wichita Falls, Texas. Four of the six singles matches went to a third set.
 
The Falcons fell behind early after dropping a close doubles point. The Mustangs took the match on one before going back and forth on court two, but the home side came out ahead.
 
Midwestern State took the match on court four for the 2-0 lead before the Falcons got on the board. Takumi Katsuda won on court two, 7-6 (8-6), 6-3, just before Vitaliy Horovoy won on court one, 6-4, 6-7 (1-7), 6-2, to even the match. Lucas Nitzschke won in three sets, 2-6, 7-5, 6-4, coming from behind to put the Falcons a win away from advancing.
 
The Mustangs won on court five in a third-set tiebreaker, leaving it all to court three. After dropping the first set, Jonathan Vega came back to win in three, 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-3), to clinch the match and move on in the NCAA Tournament.
 
The Falcons head to Orlando for the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament beginning May 21. Their next opponent will be announced at a later date.
 
No. 30 UTPB 4, No. 18 Midwestern State 3
 
Singles Competition
1. Vitaliy Horovoy (UTPB) def. Luis Diaz (MSU), 6-4, 6-7 (1-7), 6-2
2. Takumi Katsuda (UTPB) def. Germano Setti (MSU), 7-6 (8-6), 6-3
3. Jonathan Vega (UTPB) def. Stephen Slocombe (MSU), 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-3)
4. Killian Guillou (MSU) def. Grzegorz Rudnicki (UTPB), 6-4, 7-5
5. Justin Van Amerongen (MSU) def. Jonas Krahofer (UTPB), 7-5 (7-5), 3-6, 7-6 (7-2)
6. Lucas Nitzschke (UTPB) def. Bruno Sanchez (MSU), 2-6, 7-5, 6-4
 
Doubles Competition
1. Luis Diaz/Stephen Slocombe (MSU) def. Jonas Krahofer/Grzegorz Rudnicki (UTPB), 6-2
2. Killian Guillou/German Setti (MSU) def. Vitaliy Horovoy/Jonathan Vega (UTPB), 7-5
3. Takumi Katsuda/Lucas Nitzschke (UTPB) vs. Bruno Sanchez/Justin Van Amerongen (MSU), 6-5, unf.
 
Order of Finish
Singles: 4,2,1,6,5,3
Doubles: 1,2