The Western New Mexico University men’s tennis team played three tough matches to close out spring break in California facing Vanguard, San Diego Christian and Armstrong Atlantic.
Vanguard, a team nationally ranked in NAIA, came away with a 9-0 victory over the Mustangs. In doubles, Alvaro Nunez (Madrid, Spain)/Pablo Santibanez (Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico/CETYS Universidad) came closest at No. 3 posting four games before a 4-8 setback. At No. 2, Tristan Da Lio (Casablanca/Academie des Hauts de Nimes)/Vladimir Gnilozubov (Kazakhstan, Astana/Kazakhstan) nearly grabbed four games as well tallying three before falling, 3-8. At the top flight, Juan Pablo Fuentes (Guadalajara, Mexico)/Omar Lopez (Naucalpan, Mexico) fell, 1-8.
In singles, Lopez at No. 6 came the closest forcing a three set battle. He dropped the first set, 1-6, but then came back strong with a 6-2 second set win before falling in the third, 2-6. Santibanez at No. 5 lost in straight sets, but he was close in both. In the opening set, he collected four games before falling, 4-6, and then went to a tiebreaker in the second, 6-7. Fuentes was defeated at No. 1, 0-6, 2-6, Da Lio at No. 2, 1-6, 3-6, Nunez at No. 3, 2-6, 1-6 and then Gnilozubov at No. 4, 1-6, 1-6.
The next day, WNMU went against San Diego Christian and were defeated, 2-7. In doubles, Da Lio/Lopez at No. 2 was within just a few points of winning their match before a 6-8 setback. Fuentes/Jean-Laurent Pageault (Perrigny, France/Academi des Hauts de Nimes) came close as well before a 5-8 loss at the top flight. Nunez/Santibanez had the same result at No. 3 falling, 5-8.
In singles, Fuentes rolled to a 6-2, 6-3 win at the top flight to tally a point for the Mustangs. Gnilozubov added the second point of the match at No. 5 as he rolled to a 6-4, 6-2 win. Pageault at No. 2 and Nunez at No. 4 were close to coming away with three set victories. Pageault grabbed the first set, 7-5 and then after dropping the second, 2-6, he then posted four games in the third set before falling, 4-6. Nunez nearly went to a tiebreaker in all three sets as he won the first, 7-6, and then fell in the next two sets 5-7, 8-10. Da Lio lost the first set, 2-6, but then rallied in the second set at No. 3 before falling in a tiebreaker, 6-7. Santibanez also came close at No. 6 before a 4-6, 6-7 loss.
In the final match of the week, WNMU faced the No. 5 team in Division II in Armstrong Atlantic State falling, 9-0. In doubles, Da Lio/Gnilozubov came closest as they held a lead and nearly came away with the win at No. 2 before falling, 6-8. Nunez/Santibanez was also within range at No. 3 posting four games before a 4-8 loss at No. 3. At the top flight, Fuentes/Pageault fell, 2-8.
In singles, Nunez and Santibanez won the most games with each tallying four. Nunez at No. 4 grabbed two games in each set before a 2-6, 2-6 loss. Same for Santibanez at No. 6 fell by the same scores of 2-6, 2-6. Da Lio won the most games in a set as he posted three games at No. 3 in the first set before a 3-6, 0-6 loss. Fuentes won three games at the top flight before a 2-6, 1-6 loss. Pageault fell at No. 2, 1-6, 0-6 and Gnilozubov at No. 5, 0-6, 1-6.
Following the three matches to close the week, WNMU is now 5-8 on the season. The Mustangs return to action this week as they will play at Division I New Mexico State on Wednesday before hosting Mesa Community College on Saturday at 10 a.m.
