LAWTON – The No. 15 Cameron women's tennis team will be advancing to nationals for the first time since 2012 after a 5-2 win over No. 17 Midwestern State on Monday. 

Cameron's win gave them their sixth NCAA Regional title and a ticket to the Sweet-16 which will be on May 18-21 in Denver, Colo.

"It's an incredible feeling," said head coach James Helvey.  "I was telling the girls that this was different than conference, it's a different feeling, winning regionals is like being the best out of three conferences and takes you to a whole other level."

The win for Cameron is also their third this season over Midwestern State with CU taking the first two on the road in Wichita Falls.

"It's hard to beat someone three times," added Helvey.  "This time it was a big difference being on our courts and playing down there for the third time would have been really tough but I am glad we got to do it here."  

In doubles play, Cameron trailed in all three-pairings early to the Mustangs.  Paula Gutierrez and Angie Torres in two-slot rallied after falling behind 4-1 and took four out of the next five games for CU's first point.  Midwestern State took the three-slot 8-5 before Alina Gorina and Zhenia Shviadok battled back late in their match from being behind 8-7 and a handful of MSU match points to win 9-8 (7-3) in a tiebreaker.

Following the switch to singles, MSU evened the match at 2-2 after winning the six-slot, 6-0 and 6-3.  But the dominoes fell Cameron's way the rest of the match with Gorina winning in the two-slot 6-1, 6-3, Shviadok followed in the three-slot 6-2, 6-2 to move to 23-4 overall in singles play this season.  Match came down to Gutierrez on court one and Samantha Wood on court five who were both leading in set two.   Gutierrez would finish first and clinch the win for the Aggies 6-3, 6-4 to send them to nationals.

Monday's win is their sixth in a row and sends them to 20-3 overall in Division II play; Midwestern State will see their season end with a 15-9 record.

The Aggies will find out in the coming days on their Sweet-16 opponent once the other national regional tournaments are completed.

Singles competition
1. #18 Paula Gutierrez (CU) def. #33 Madeline Schorlemmer (MS) 6-3, 6-4
2. Alina Gorina (CU) def. Eirini Kontaki (MS) 6-1, 6-3
3. Zhenia Shviadok (CU) def. Greta Lazzarotto (MS) 6-2, 6-2
4. Angie Torres (CU) vs. Amy Clifton (MS) 5-7, 6-1, 2-1, unfinished
5. Samantha Wood (CU) vs. Lindsay Nochowicz (MS) 6-1, 5-2, unfinished
6. Abby White (MS) def. Mathilde Thibaudat (CU) 6-0, 6-3
 
Doubles competition
1. #15 Alina Gorina/Zhenia Shviadok (CU) def. Eirini Kontaki/Lindsay Nochowicz (MS) 9-8 (7-3)
2. Paula Gutierrez/Angie Torres (CU) def. Amy Clifton/Greta Lazzarotto (MS) 8-5
3. Madeline Schorlemmer/Abby White (MS) def. Samantha Wood/Mathilde Thibaudat (CU) 8-5