ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The Western New Mexico University women's tennis team opened the 2014 campaign against a pair of Division I teams on Sunday facing Northern Arizona University and the University of New Mexico.


"It was a tough day against two great Division I teams. However, I really like how the Lady Mustangs faced the match," first-year head coach Yair Banuelos said. "We have lot of work to do before our next trip, but I am confident that the team will be ready to compete."


The Lady Mustangs started the day against Northern Arizona and the Lumberjacks came away with the 6-1 victory. Junior RMAC Preseason Player of the Year Ganna Tiurina (Kiev, Ukraine/M.M. Gromov #227) ripped through her first singles match of the season at the top flight dealing Emelia Box a straight set 6-2, 6-0 defeat. Junior Marie Monier (Saint Etienne, France/St Paul Forez Montbrison) won three games at the No. 2 singles position before falling, 6-1, 6-2 to Johanna Vang. Sophomore Claudia Osuna (Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico/Tec Milenio ) took a pair of games from Hailey Rochin in the opening set before dropping the match, 6-2, 6-0 at No. 3. Sophomore Diamond Morrill (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad), senior Dena Irvin (Farmington, NM/Farmington High School) and freshman Marissa Aguirre (Douglas, AZ/Douglas) at No. 4 through No. 6 fell in straight sets, 6-0, 6-0.


In doubles, Tiurina and Morrill teamed at the top flight and the pair claimed a couple games before dropping the match, 6-2. Osuna and Aguirre at No. 3 also claimed at least a game as they lost, 6-1 and at No. 2, Monier and Irvin fell, 6-0.


To close the day, the Lady Mustangs faced the Lobos and lost, 7-0.


Tiurina and Monier posted points in their singles matches with Tiurina winning one in each set before falling in the top flight against Michaela Bezdickeva, 6-1, 6-1. While Monier won both of her games in the first set before Lizette Blankers won, 6-2, 6-0, at No. 2. Osuna, Morrill, Irvin and Aguirre played at No. 3 through six and UNM came away with 6-0, 6-0 victories.


In doubles, Tiurina and Morrill were able to get a game at the top position against Bezdickova and Blankers before dropping the match, 6-1. Monier and Irvin at No. 2 and Osuna and Aguirre at No. 3 were each defeated by scores of 6-0.


WNMU will now have this week off before facing Division II teams starting next Thursday when they travel to Phoenix where they will open against California State Stanislaus and Dixie State the first day.