Wildcats squeak past Midwestern State

ACU improves to 6-4 on season with 6-3 victory

ABILENE -- The Abilene Christian men's tennis team improved to 6-4 on the season with Tuesdays' 6-3 win over Midwestern State at the Teague Special Events Center.

The Wildcats won at Nos. 1-3 and No. 6 singles and won at No. 1 and No. 3 doubles.

Artin Tafazoli downed MSU's Brett Emerson for a 6-2, 6-0 win at No. 1, and Jason Ray won his singles match 4-6, 6-3, 6-1. Casper Steenkamp also fought off MSU's Gene Ligeon 6-2, 6-4.

In doubles action, Steenkamp and Ray paired to down Emerson and Jared King 8-6.

ACU assistant coach John Walker said his team didn't expect such a strong effort from MSU.

''We wanted to get the upper hand early because it was an important match for us,'' Walker said. ''We were shooting for it to be a little more decisive, but it was a close enough match where the next time we play them we might be a little scared.''

The Wildcats, who are ranked No. 22 in the nation in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Top 25 poll, don't play again until March 4 when they serve as host to Western New Mexico University, a Division II school from the Pacific West Conference.