EDMOND, Oklahoma – The No. 21-ranked Northwest Missouri State University Bearcat men's tennis team is headed to the national quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II Tournament after capturing a 4-2 win over the No. 17-ranked Southern Arkansas University Muleriders.

It marks the third time that Northwest has reached the national quarterfinals since the NCAA moved to dual tournament play. Northwest also reached the national quarterfinals in 2014 and 2016.

Northwest moves to 16-4 on the season, while SAU's completes its year with a mark of 13-6.

The national quarterfinals are set for May 18-20 at Surprise Tennis & Racquet Complex in Surprise, Arizona.

Northwest gained an early edge by scoring the doubles point. At No. 1 doubles, Andrea Zamurri and Franco Oliva combined to tally a 6-4 victory over SAU's Sander Jans and Sofiane Bah. At No. 3 doubles, Northwest's Agustin Velasco and Fabien Calloud collected a 6-3 triumph over SAU's Ole Lukas Valkyser and Gabriel Breitenmoser.

Calloud kept the Bearcat train rolling with a 6-3, 6-3 win at No. 2 singles over SAU's Yuri Gondouin.

Zamurri dropped his first match of the season at No. 1 singles when he fell to SAU's Sander by the count of 6-2, 6-2. The loss dropped Zamurri's mark to 18-1 on the year.

Northwest's Franco Oliva gave the Bearcats their third point of the dual with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over SAU's Marko Nikoliuk at No. 3 singles.

Valkyser kept SAU's hopes alive with a three-set win over Northwest's Fillippo Piranomonte at No. 4 singles, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4.

Northwest's Martin Sanchez clinched the Bearcat celebration with a three-set victory at No. 5 singles. Sanchez fell in the opening set to SAU's Beh, 6-4. However, Sanchez regrouped and settled down for a 6-1, 6-4 win.

The No. 6 singles match between Agustin Velasco and SAU' Breitenmoser was stopped in the third set with Velasco holding a 3-2 advantage.