KAUZ-TV: NewsChannel 6 Now | Wichita Falls, TXMSU: Volleyball Postseason Hopes Cloudy After Loss

Midwestern State suffered its fourth consecutive loss Tuesday night to Cameron 25-19, 10-25, 17-25, 22-25 at Aggie Gym in Lawton, Okla.
 
The Mustangs fell to 15-13 on the season and to 7-11 in Lone Star Conference to make its playoff opportunities just a bit murkier.
 
Midwestern maintains a half-game lead over Texas A&M-Kingsville for seventh place with two games remaining.
 
MSU controls its own destiny and clinches its fifth-straight berth into the LSC Tournament which will be held beginning next Thursday at home West Texas A&M in Canyon.
 
With a road win either over Abilene Christian on Thursday night or at Angelo State on Saturday, the Mustangs would go in as the No. 7 seed.
 
But if Midwestern loses out, MSU can still qualify if Tarleton State defeats either Texas A&M-Kingsville or Incarnate Word later this week or the Mustangs will be in if Texas A&M-Commerce loses to either West Texas A&M or Eastern New Mexico.
 
MSU came out firing on all cylinders against the Aggies Tuesday night as sophomore middle blocker Caitlin Wallace put down kills in five of her seven chances to lead the Mustangs a .371 hitting percentage and a 25-19 win in the opening set.
 
But the Mustangs were unable to find the grove the rest of the night hitting a combined 0.067 with 23 attack errors over the final three sets.
 
Cameron freshman Kelle Carver notched a match-high 13 kills while senior Adrienne Lawson added 11 more to lead the Aggies to a strong .312 team hitting percentage.
 
Senior libero Kiara Jordan paced the Mustangs' back row efforts with 16 digs, while freshman setter Kristan Aduddell notched her eight double-double of the season with 37 assists and 10 digs. Senior outside hitter Hillary White narrowly missed the feat finishing with nine kills and nine digs.
 
Midwestern State takes on Abilene Christian Thursday night at Moody Coliseum. First serve is set for 7 p.m.

Smith, Mens Golf a Close Second at Lion Fall Invitational

The wind picked up for the final round of the Lion Fall Invitational at The Tribute Golf Club in The Colony, Texas, and so did the scores as the Midwestern State Mustangs shot a one-under-par 287 as a team in the final round to place second.
 
Sam Smith, the Archer City junior who led after one round, shot an even-par 72 in the final round for an eight-under 136, but finished two strokes behind Texas A&M-Commerce's Christopher Leasor who fired a seven-under 65 on Tuesday to win at 10-under 134.
 
"The guys fought hard today," said MSU Coach Jeff Ray.  "The wind picked up to about 25 miles an hour and that made this links-style course tough."
 
"Sam had a solid round," Ray continued.  "But he missed a few putts he could have made."
 
The Mustangs were led in the second round by freshman Derek Oland who fired a three-under 69 in the final round.  He finished tied for 16th with a one-over 145.
 
Smith was matched by sophomore Jeremy LeGuen in the final round with an even-par 72 to finish in a seventh place tie at two-under 142.
 
Senior Trevor Arianna carded a 76 on Tuesday for a top 20 finish at two-over 146, while junior Raine Copeland was steady with a second 74 to stand at eight-over 148.
 
Junior Antonio Herran, playing as an individual, shot an even-par 72 to finish with a 150.
 
"One of our strengths this year as a team is that all five guys are capable of shooting a great score,"  Ray added.  "It really helps us as a team."
 
The Mustangs finished six strokes behind Central Oklahoma for the team title.  The No. 9 Bronchos posted a four-under 283 in the final round to win at 17-under 559.  MSU was two strokes better than third place Dallas Baptist at nine-under 567, with Cameron fourth at five-under 571.
 
MSU wrapped up its fall schedule with the tourney.

Mens Soccer Up to 4th in NSCAA D-II Rankings

Midwestern State has ridden its last five-game unbeaten streak to No. 4 in the latest National Soccer Coaches' Association of America Division II poll released Tuesday afternoon.
 
The Mustangs improved to 11-3-1 on the season with a sound 3-0 thumping of Northeastern State last Friday in Tahlequah and close the season with a pair of rival matches beginning with Eastern New Mexico Friday night at the MSU Soccer Field.
 
MSU closes the regular season against West Texas A&M Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
The Mustangs have carried a national ranking for each of the last 64 reporting periods in which it was eligible to receive mention dating back to the 2006 season.
 
Midwestern is one of eight teams from the rugged South Central/Central regions to receiving mention in the poll joining No. 3 Fort Lewis (Colo.), No. 10 Incarnate Word (Texas), No. 13 Regis (Colo.), No. 17 Texas A&M International and No. 21 Metro State (Colo.) while Colorado Mines and Eastern New Mexico are receiving votes.
 
The Greyhounds (9-3-5) clinched their first Lone Star Conference title battling Incarnate Word to a scoreless draw Sunday in Portales.