LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The Western New Mexico University women's tennis team held strong in a couple of matches but eventually Division I New Mexico State University was too much as they defeated the Lady Mustangs, 6-1, Friday afternoon.
 
In singles, Western New Mexico University (WNMU) came close to taking both of the top matches. Ganna Tiurina (Kiev, Ukraine/M.M. Gromov #227) dropped her opening set at the top position, 6-1, and then came back strong ripping off a 6-1 second set and 10-4 third set win to take the match. Ashley Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado) nearly did the same at No. 2, as she opened by taking the first set, 6-2 and after dropping the second set in a close 7-5 decision, she fell in the third and final set, 10-6. Claudia Osuna (Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico/Tec Milenio ) and Diamond Morrill (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) both fell by scores of 6-0, 6-0 at No. 3 and No. 5, respectively. Doris Berberic (Lower Hutt, New Zealand/Hutt Valley High School) claimed three games at No. 4 before falling, 6-2, 6-1. In the last singles match, Davida Aragon (Arenas Valley, NM/Cobre High School) lost, 6-1, 6-0.
 
In doubles, WNMU (5-8) pulled out several games at the No. 1 and No. 3 positions. At the top flight, Tiurina and Newell won three games before an 8-3 defeat, while Berberic and Morrill claimed four games at No. 3 before an 8-4 setback. In the final doubles match, Osuna and Dena Irvin (Farmington, NM/Farmington High School) lost, 8-0.
 
WNMU will battle Tarleton State on Saturday beginning at 9 a.m. in El Paso, Tex.