Facing three ranked teams and four total teams over the course of the week, the Western New Mexico University women’s tennis team ended up going 1-3. They fell to Point Loma, 9-0, Azusa Pacific, 9-0, UC San Diego, 8-1 and then defeated Holy Names, 8-1.
The Lady Mustangs opened against #25 Point Loma. The Lady Lions won all three doubles matches, but Pauline Emin (Viry, France/Lycee Arbez Carme)/Ashley Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado) came close at No. 2 falling, 5-8. Ganna Tiurina (Kiev, Ukraine/M.M. Gromov #227)/Annica Betz (Celle, Germany/Kaiserin Auguste Viktoria Gymnasium) fell at No. 1, 3-8 and Tiffany Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado )/Diamond Morrill (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) were defeated at No. 3, 1-8.
In singles, Betz came close to winning both sets at No. 2. She almost forced a tiebreaker in the first set before a 5-7 setback. Then in the second set, she did take it to a breaker before falling, 6-7. Claudia Osuna (Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico/Tec Milenio ) at No. 5 also forced a second set tiebreaker in her match. After losing the opening set, 3-6, she forced a second set breaker before a 6-7 loss. Emin had a strong first set at No. 4 nearly claiming a win before falling, 5-7. She then lost in the second, 1-6. Tiurina collected five games at the top flight before a 2-6, 3-6 defeat. Ashley Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado) fell at No. 3, 0-6, 1-6 and Tiffany Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado ) lost at No. 6, 1-6, 2-6.
WNMU then battled the Cougars from #13 Azusa Pacific. The Cougars claimed all three doubles matches with the closest coming at the top flight as Tiurina/Betz fell, 3-8. Morrill/Tiffany Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado ) lost 2-8 at No. 3, while Ashley Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado)/Emin lost at No. 2, 1-8.
In singles, Ashley Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado) was able to win a set at No. 3. Having dropped the first set, 4-6, she came back with a 6-3 win in the second set and nearly won the super tiebreaker in the third before falling, 9-11. Tiffany Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado ) nearly forced her first set at No. 6 to the brink before falling, 5-7. She then dropped the second set, 2-6. Emin claimed three games at No. 4 before a 3-6, 1-6 setback. Betz fell at No. 2, 2-6, 1-6, Tiurina at No. 1, 1-6, 1-6 and Osuna at No. 5, 1-6, 0-6.
The Lady Mustangs then claimed a point against #19 UC San Diego the next day. The Lady Tritons were able to win all three doubles matches, but WNMU fought hard. Emin/Ashley Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado) at No. 2, along with Morrill/Tiffany Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado ) at No. 3 each won four games before falling, 4-8. Tiurina/Betz at No. 1 fell, 3-8.
In singles, Osuna cruised to a 6-1, 6-3 win at No. 5 to record the point for WNMU. Tiurina claimed seven games at No. 1 before a 3-6, 4-6 setback. Tiffany Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado ) won four games at No. 6 before a 2-6, 2-6 loss. Ashley Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado) and Emin claimed three games in their matches as Ashley Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado) lost at No. 3, 1-6, 2-6, while Emin fell at No. 4, 0-6, 3-6. Rounding out the singles matches for the Lady Mustangs, Betz was defeated at No. 2, 1-6, 1-6.
In the final match of the week, WNMU came away with a resounding 8-1 victory over the Lady Hawks of Holy Names. The Lady Mustangs swept through doubles play with Emin/Ashley Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado) coming away with the strongest victory at No. 2 with an 8-0 win. Morrill/Tiffany Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado ) then posted an 8-3 win at No. 3 before Tiurina/Betz completed the strong doubles play with an 8-5 win at the top flight.
In singles, Emin recorded a shutout in her first set at No. 5 and then went on to the straight set win, 6-0, 6-2. Osuna also dropped just two games at No. 4 coming away with a 6-1, 6-1 victory. Ashley Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado) rolled to a 6-1, 6-2 win at No. 3, Tiurina collected a 6-4, 6-2 win at the top flight and Tiffany Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado ) recorded a 6-4, 6-4 win at No. 6. Betz nearly won her opening set at No. 2, but fell, 4-6 and then dropped the second, 2-6.
Following the week, WNMU is now 2-4 on the season. They will travel to Albuquerque this week to face Tarleton State and Midwestern State.
