Men's Box | Women's Box

ABILENE, Texas – A 6-3 win over Howard Payne for the McMurry University men's tennis team Tuesday at the Seidel-Swagerty Tennis Center sets up a dramatic stage Thursday between cross-town rivals McMurry and Hardin-Simmons as the schools battle for the American Southwest Conference West Division title.

McMurry's victory over the Yellow Jackets moves the team to 5-0 in ASC West Division play, and if the team can defeat HSU Thursday, it will defend its divisional title and take its second-straight outright. Last year, McMurry defeated HSU snapping a nine-year streak of the Cowboys winning the ASC West crown.

Tuesday, the 6-3 win dropped Howard Payne 4-2 in the Yellow Jackets' final ASC West match of the season. If HSU defeats McMurry Thursday, both teams would be 5-1, and although officially, both teams would be co-champions, HSU would get the tie-breaker for the No. 1 seed in the postseason tournament with the head-to-head win.

On the women's side, McMurry clinched a spot in the ASC Postseason Tournament with an 8-1 win over the Lady Yellow Jackets. The victory moved the team to 4-1 in league play. Regardless of McMurry's outcome with HSU's women Thursday, McMurry will enter into the postseason tournament as the No. 3 seed from the west side.

In men's action, Will Davis, Daniel Olivares, Brent Abilez and Levi Cockrill won singles matches from the No. 1, No. 3, No. 5 and No. 6 spots respectively to take four of six on the singles court. Then, in doubles competition, Davis and Bryan Rainwater won the No. 1 doubles court match 8-6 and Abilez and Tony Williams teamed up to win a spot on the No. 3 court. McMurry's overall record improved to 11-6.

On the women's side, McMurry took five of six matches on the singles court and then swept all three doubles matches on the doubles court. HPU's Cassie Emerson recorded the only point for the Lady Yellow Jackets from the No. 2 spot on the singles court.

McMurry's Lindsey Bloomer, Gavee Olsen, Chelsea Miller, Hillary Stone and Rachel Smith won on the singles court. Bloomer and Miller, Olsen and Stone, and Whitney Zugai and Karlie Dieterich teamed up for doubles court wins. McMurry's women improved to 9-6 overall and 4-1 in league play.

Thursday's matches between McMurry and Hardin-Simmons begin at 3 p.m. at McMurry's Seidel-Swagerty Tennis Center. The ASC Postseason Tournament is April 23-25 and will be on the campus of UT-Tyler.