SILVER CITY, N.M. – The Western New Mexico University women’s tennis team fought through a tough match from Eastern Arizona College, as well as the weather to claim a 9-0 victory Wednesday afternoon.
With conditions perfect at the start of play, the wind and the rain came a calling at the start of singles and stayed around for the rest of the match. Both teams preserved the elements to play some quality tennis.
In doubles, Ganna Tiurina (Kiev, Ukraine/M.M. Gromov #227)/Annica Betz (Celle, Germany/Kaiserin Auguste Viktoria Gymnasium) broke away from a close match at the top flight for an 8-6 victory. Pauline Emin (Viry, France/Lycee Arbez Carme)/Ashley Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado) had no troubles at No. 2 cruising to the 8-0 win. Tiffany Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado )/Diamond Morrill (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) also strung together several solid points in their No. 3 match to pull away for the 8-3 victory.
In singles, Tiurina had to go three sets before claiming the victory at the top flight. She took the opening set, 7-5, then after a 3-6 setback in the second, she came back with a strong super tiebreaker in the third for the 10-5 win. Betz also had to fight to win her match at No. 2. She opened strong just like Tiurina with a 6-2 win in the first set. Then after dropping the second, 3-6, she came back with a 10-8 win in the super tiebreaker. Ashley Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado) at No. 3 and Emin at No. 4 had no issues in their matches rolling to 6-2, 6-0 victories each. Claudia Osuna (Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico/Tec Milenio ), like Tiurina and Betz, had to fight to secure her win at No. 5. She had no issues in the first set with a 6-0 win, but then after dropping the second set, 2-6, she had to come back to win the third, 10-5. Tiffany Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado ) made it a clean sweep with a 6-0, 6-1 win at No. 6.
WNMU (1-1) will return to action on Feb. 18 when they will play at Point Loma Nazarene in San Diego, Calif.
