PHOENIX, Ariz. – The Western New Mexico University tennis teams concluded the Phoenix Tournament over the weekend.


"The women's team had a tough week. They all worked really hard with so many matches in only three days," first-year head coach Yair Banuelos said. "We are getting mentally tougher and physically stronger. This team will be ready to compete against any circumstance and I am confidence that we will keep progressing and find our best tennis soon."


"The men's team had a great week. Going 4-1 and beating very competitive teams is always good," Banuelos added. "The way that the Mustangs played to get the victories is very encouraging and exciting for matches the rest of the season. I am very excited for the upcoming week playing two Division 1 schools."


On Friday, the men defeated Mesa Community College, 6-3. In doubles, senior Rodrigo Almeida (Arapongas, Brazil/Nene Lourenco High School) and junior Juan Pablo Fuentes (Guadalajara, Mexico/) won a tough battle at the top flight, 9-8. Freshman Juan-Laurent Pageault and junior Omar Lopez (Naucalpan, Mexico/) also pulled out a tight back-and-forth fight at No. 3, 8-6. At No.2, senior Francisco Damasio (Jundiai, Brazil/Centro Educational Sigma ) and junior Alvaro Nunez (Madrid, Spain/) lost, 2-8. In singles, Almeida, Pageault, freshman Sascha Brechtel (Neustadt an der Weinstraße, Germany/Kurpfalz Gymnasium Mannheim ) and Lopez won in straight sets. At the top flight, Almeida came away with a close, 7-6, 6-4 win. At No. 3, Pageault cruised in the first set, 6-2 and then went to a tiebreaker in the second before coming away with the 7-6 win. Brechtel at No. 5 dominated after a closet first set, 6-4, to roll in the second set, 6-1. At No. 6, Lopez had no problems with a 6-1, 6-2 win. Nunez at No. 2 went three sets as he won the opening set, 6-3, but then dropped the next two, 1-6, 3-6. Damasio at No. 4 was in control taking the first set, 6-1 and then was tied in the second, 5-5, when he had to drop out of the match for a forfeit.


The women faced Academy of Art and Dominican on Friday, dropping both matches, 0-9 and then 1-8. In the first match against nationally-ranked Academy of Art, the Lady Mustangs came close in the doubles at No. 2 with junior Marie Monier (Saint Etienne, France/St Paul Forez Montbrison) and sophomore Diamond Morrill (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad), collecting five games before falling, 5-8. Senior Ganna Tiurina (Kiev, Ukraine/M.M. Gromov #227) and sophomore Claudia Osuna (Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico/Tec Milenio ) won one game at the top flight before falling, 1-8 and at No. 3, senior Dena Irvin (Farmington, NM/Farmington High School) and freshman Marissa Aguirre (Douglas, AZ/Douglas) lost, 0-8. In singles, Tiurina came close at No. 1, as she came back from losing the first set, 2-6, to take the second, 6-4 and then dropped a close final set, 7-10. Aguirre at No. 6 won five games before falling, 3-6, 2-6. Monier at No. 2 won a pair of games before dropping the match, 1-6, 1-6. Osuna (0-6, 0-6) at No. 3, Morrill (0-6, 1-6) at No. 4 and Irvin (0-6, retired) at No. 5 round out the singles competition.


Later in the day against Dominican in doubles, Monier and Morrill came closest at No. 2, dropping a 4-8 decision. Irvin and Aguirre claimed three games at No. 3, but lost, 3-8 and Tiruina and Osuna at the top flight fell, 2-8. In singles, Monier claimed the only win as she won convincingly, 6-4, 6-2, at No. 2. Morrill at No. 4 won three games in each set (3-6, 3-6), Aguirre won three games in her match at No. 6 (2-6, 1-6), Irvin won two games in the second set (0-6, 2-6), Tiurina at the top position won three games in the opening set before retiring (3-6, retire) and Osuna at No. 3 lost (0-6, 0-6).


The next day on Saturday, the men fell to nationally-ranked Azusa Pacific, 0-9, but came back later in the day to beat Point Loma, 6-3. In the first match against Azusa Pacific, Damasio and Nunez came closest in the doubles claiming four games before falling, 4-8. Almeida and Fuentes at the top flight grabbed three games before a 3-8 setback and at No. 3, Lopez and Pageault lost, 0-8. In singles, Almeida rallied from an 0-6 first set to go to a tiebreaker in the second before dropping in a tiebreaker, 6-7, at the top flight. Fuentes did almost the same at No. 3, as he lost the opening set, 0-6, just to come back and nearly take the second, but lost, 5-7. Pageault at No. 4 and Brechtel at No. 6 came close winning six games before falling by the same scores of 3-6, 3-6. Damasio won eight games at No. 5 before a 4-6, 4-6 setback and Nunez at No. 2 fell, 3-6, 2-6.


Later that day against Point Loma, the Mustangs claimed two points in doubles. Almeida and Fuentes at No. 1 came away with a 9-7 win, while Pageault and Lopez at No. 3 cruised to an 8-1 decision. Damasio and Nunez at No. 2 forced their match all the way to a tiebreaker before an 8-9 loss. In singles, Almeida claimed a big win at the top flight coming away with a 7-5, 7-5 victory. Pageault showed resolve after dropping a tough tiebreaking first set, 6-7, he rallied to take the second, 6-3, and third, 10-8, at No. 4. Damasio at No. 5 dominated (6-1, 6-0), while Brechtel gave WNMU four win in singles with a 6-1, 6-4 win at No. 6. Nunez (2-6, 0-6) at No. 2 and Fuentes (1-6, 4-6) at No. 3 round out the scores.


On the women's side Saturday, the Lady Mustangs fell to nationally-ranked Azusa Pacific, 0-9, and Point Loma, 0-9. In the first match of the day, Azusa Pacific claimed doubles wins of 8-0 at both No. 1 against Monier and Morrill and at No. 2 against Osuna and Irvin. WNMU had to forfeit the No. 3 doubles. In singles, Aguirre came the closest at No. 5, claiming six games before a 4-6, 2-6, defeat. Osuna at No. 2 and Irvin at No. 4 won a pair of games before dropping by same scores of 1-6, 1-6. They claimed the other two points by forfeit.


Later in the day in what was the final match of the tournament against Point Loma, WNMU fell, 0-9. In doubles, Monier and Osuna at No. 1 came close before a 6-8 loss. Aguirre and Irvin lost at No. 2, 0-8. The third doubles point was a forfeit. In singles, Osuna came the closest with five games at No. 2 before a 3-6, 2-6 loss. Monier fell at No. 1 (0-6, 0-6), Irvin at No. 3 (0-6, 0-6) and Aguirre at No. 4 (1-6, 1-6).


On Sunday, the men played one match defeating Sonoma State, 6-3. In doubles, Almeida and Fuentes at No. 1 and Nunez and Damasio at No. 2 claimed wins by scores of 8-3. Pageault and Lopez completed the sweep with a tiebreaking 9-8 win at No. 3. In singles, Nunez at No. 2 fought back from a 6-7 loss in the first set to win in three, 6-4, 10-7. Damasio dominated at No. 4, 6-1, 6-3, same for Lopez at No. 6, 6-0, 6-2. Brechtel at No. 5 opened with a 6-4 first set win and fought off a late run in the second to win in a tiebreaker, 7-6.


WNMU is now 4-1 on the men's side and 0-8 on the women's following the trip to Phoenix. Both teams will be in action this week in Las Cruces as the men play Friday against New Mexico State, Saturday against Texas-Permian Basin and Sunday against Abilene Christian. The women will play Saturday against Texas-Permian Basin.