DENVER, Colo. – The RMAC schedule is upon the Western New Mexico University tennis teams as they head to Denver this week to play three matches.
Both teams will face Montana State-Billings and Colorado Christian on Friday, before closing the week on Saturday against Colorado Mesa.
On the women's side, the Lady Mustangs are 5-11, having posted a big regional win against Tarleton State. In singles play,
Ganna Tiurina (Kiev, Ukraine/M.M. Gromov #227) leads the way with eight wins at the top flight.
Pauline Emin (Viry, France/Lycee Arbez Carme) adds seven wins, while
Claudia Osuna (Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico/Tec Milenio ) has six. In doubles play, the combo of Annia Betz/Tiurina has the most wins with four at the top flight. Emin/
Ashley Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado) and
Diamond Morrill (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad)/
Tiffany Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado ) each have two wins apiece.
WNMU will open against Montana State-Billings as the Lady Yellow Jackets are 1-6 on the season. Their win came recently against St. Benedict on Mar. 2. MSU-Billings has one senior on their roster and they will face Colorado College the day before playing WNMU. Last year, WNMU came away with a 5-4 victory over the Lady Yellow Jackets.
Later in the day on Friday, WNMU will play Colorado Christian. The Cougars are 5-10 on the season with their last match taking place on Mar. 30 at home against Holy Names in which they were defeated, 8-1. They will play CSU-Pueblo in Pueblo the day before facing WNMU. Raeghan Rudkin leads the team in singles victories with four, while Katy Balli and Jennifer Perkins lead the team in most doubles wins with three apiece. WNMU claimed an 8-1 win in Silver City last year.
To close the week, WNMU will play Colorado Mesa on Saturday. The Lady Mavericks are 10-6 on the season and are 1-0 in the conference having defeated Metro State, 7-2. Last time out on Mar. 29 they were defeated by Cameron, 6-3. They will play Northern Colorado in Greeley the day before playing the Lady Mustangs. Several players tie for the team lead in singles wins with Amy Beeston, Emily Dodson, Katie Kirby, Natalie Martin and Rachel McLaughlin all have nine victories. In doubles, Beetson and Dodson have 12 doubles victories each. Last year, Colorado Mesa took both matchups winning in Silver City, 6-3, and then in the RMAC Tournament, 5-4.
On the men's side, No. 33 WNMU will begin their defense of their five-straight RMAC regular season and tournament titles this week and are currently 6-9 overall on the season collecting a 6-3 win last time out on Mar. 21 against Mesa CC.
Vladimir Gnilozubov (Kazakhstan, Astana/Kazakhstan) leads the team in singles victories with seven.
Tristan Da Lio (Casablanca/Academie des Hauts de Nimes) adds six and
Alvaro Nunez (Madrid, Spain) has five. In doubles play, Nunez/
Pablo Santibanez (Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico/CETYS Universidad) lead in doubles victories with four.
They will open against MSU-Billings as the Yellow Jackets are 0-6 so far on the season with their last match taking place on Mar. 3 against Detroit Mercy as they lost, 7-1. They will also face Colorado College the day before playing WNMU. They have a junior-heavy class with four on the team. Last year, WNMU rolled to a 9-0 victory against MSU-Billings.
Later in the day they will face Colorado Christian. The Cougars are 1-12 on the season having defeated Nebraska Wesleyan. They last played on Mar. 28 against Hastings College, falling, 9-0. They will play at CSU-Pueblo before facing WNMU on Friday. Caleb Rold leads the team in singles wins, while Chase Gebhart, David Horner, Trent Strietelmeier and Mitch Swim have all posted doubles wins. WNMU collected a 9-0 win last year against Colorado Christian.
To wrap up the week, WNMU will play Saturday against the Mavericks. No. 42 CMU is 13-4 on the season and 1-0 in the conference with a 6-3 win against Metro State. Last time out on Mar. 29 they were defeated by Cameron, 6-3. They will face Northern Colorado the day before going against WNMU. In singles play, Jordan Lyden leads with 16 victories. Andres Garcia-Rojas and Spencer Weinberg tally 15, while Cody Freischlag adds 14. In doubles, Lyden and Weinberg have each tallied 21 wins as a duo. Last year, WNMU took both meetings winning in Silver City, 7-2 and then in the RMAC Tournament, 5-2.
Up next for WNMU, they will then return to action hosting Metro State and CSU-Pueblo in Silver City on Apr. 10 and 11.
