AUSTIN, Texas – McMurry University's men's tennis team improved to 7-1 on the season, and may have raised a few eyebrows on Saturday, as it knocked off nationally-ranked St. Edward's University, 5-3, on the Brother Emmett Strohmeyer Varsity Courts.

The War Hawks also won their second-straight match by upending the Hilltoppers, ranked No. 17 in the ITA Division II Men's Poll.

McMurry gave itself a tremendous advantage at the outset by sweeping all three doubles matches from SEU.  At the No. 1 position, McMurry's tandem of Chris Breaux and Casjen Rico remained unbeaten this season, 8-0, by defeating the Hilltoppers' tandem of James Rogers and Maximo Agoglia, 9-7.

At No. 2 doubles, it was Felipe Cruz and Dani Perez dispatching of SEU's Pedro Bronstrup and Felix Bake, 8-6. At No. 3, McMurry's Preston Steblein and Christiano Mendes earned an 8-3 victory over the SEU duo of Jonathan Stockdale and Alexandre Bueno.

In singles play, the Hilltoppers were victorious at the Nos. 1, 2 and 4 matches. But Needing just two more match points to secure the win, McM got what it needed from Perez at No. 3 singles and Mendes at No. 5. 

Perez battled to win a stirring three-set victory over Agoglia. Perez dropped the opening set, 7-6, but came back to win the second, 6-2.  The third and deciding set went to Perez, 7-6 (winning the tiebreaker, 11-9).

It was a similar situation for Mendes at the No. 5 match against the Hilltoppers' Michael Garza. After losing the opening set 6-4, Mendes came back strong to dominate the final two sets 6-0, 6-3.

The No. 6 singles match was not finished once the team score was decided.