The women's tennis team started off conference play strong, going 3-1 Friday and Saturday. Their only loss came at the hands of the University of Nebraska-Kearney by a score of 6-3. The three wins were over Colorado Christian University (7-2), CSU-Pueblo (8-1), and Montana State University-Billings (5-4).

To start the weekend, the Mustangs faced Colorado Christian. WNMU swept all three doubles matches. Nikolina Vukadin (Pale, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sredwjoskolski Centar Pale) and Doris Berberic (Lower Hutt, New Zealand, Hutt Valley High School) won at the No. 1 spot, 9-7, while Emily Lampman (Kerrville, TX, Tivy High School) and Stephanie Shelton (Douglas, AZ, Douglas High School) posted an 8-2 victory and Vanessa Molina (El Paso, TX, Franklin High School, Tyler Junior College) and Sarah Nogan (Albuquerque, NM, Cibola High School) got an easy 8-1 win.

In the singles matches, Lampman, Bereberic, Molina, and Nogan all walked away with a smile.

Like the earlier match of the day, WNMU tallied three straight victories in doubles over CSU-Pueblo. The winning kept coming in singles play also. Shelton, at No. 1, was the only Mustangs not to post a point as she had to retire due to injury.

“It was a great first day for the team,” said assistant coach Carolina Hannes. “They showed improvements on their doubles game and are ready to compete.”

On Saturday morning, the team was challenged by Kearney straight away with doubles. WNMU posted three losses in doubles. They were able to bounce back, however, with three wins singles.

The singles wins came at the No. 2 spot with Vukadin who forced a third set (3-6, 7-5, 10-8), No. 4 Berberic after her opponent retired, and No. 5 Nogan who won also in three sets (7-6, 3-6, 11-9).

In the afternoon match against Billings, the Mustangs brought their intensity up with two out of three wins at doubles and then three more wins at singles.

“I really liked the effort and fight that they showed on the second match against Billings,” concludes Hannes. 

Click here for Colorado Christian University results.

Click here for CSU-Pueblo results.

Click here for University of Nebraska-Kearney results.

Click here for Montana State University-Billings results.