SILVER CITY, N.M. – Playing in their first home RMAC matches of the season, the Western New Mexico University tennis teams had no trouble rolling to a pair of victories against MSU Denver. The men claimed an 8-1 win, while the women took a 7-2 victory Friday at the WNMU Tennis Courts.

On the men's side, the No. 33 Mustangs opened strong taking all three doubles. At the top flight, Tristan Da Lio (Casablanca/Academie des Hauts de Nimes)/Vladimir Gnilozubov (Kazakhstan, Astana/Kazakhstan) grabbed an 8-5 win. Juan Pablo Fuentes (Guadalajara, Mexico)/Alvaro Nunez (Madrid, Spain) at No. 2, along with Jean-Laurent Pageault (Perrigny, France/Academi des Hauts de Nimes)/Pablo Santibanez (Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico/CETYS Universidad) at No. 3 won by the same scores of 8-3.

In singles, Da Lio, Nunez, Gnilozubov and Santibanez all won in straight sets. Da Lio, ranked 16^th in the region, at No. 3 posted a 6-2, 6-4 win, Nunez added a 6-1, 6-2 win, Gnilozubov rolled to a 6-3, 6-1 win and then Santibanez completed the straight set wins taking a 6-4, 6-1 victory. Pageault, ranked 11^th in the region, gave WNMU their eighth point as he opened with a 6-2 first set win and after dropping the second, 2-6, came back strong to win the third in a tiebreaker, 7-6. Fuentes, ranked 10^th in the region, fell to Josh Graetz, currently 12^th in the region, at the top flight, 3-6, 4-6.

With the win, WNMU is now 10-9 on the season and 4-0 in RMAC play. The Roadrunners drop to 10-9 overall and 1-2 in RMAC play. Coming in, WNMU was ranked third in the region, while MSU Denver was sixth.
On the women's side, the Lady Mustangs got the early start taking two of three in doubles. The 10^th ranked doubles team in the region, Ganna Tiurina (Kiev, Ukraine/M.M. Gromov #227)/Annica Betz (Celle, Germany/Kaiserin Auguste Viktoria Gymnasium) posted a solid 8-5 win at the top flight. Pauline Emin (Viry, France/Lycee Arbez Carme)/Claudia Osuna (Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico/Tec Milenio ) added an 8-2 win at No. 3. Ashley Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado)/Diamond Morrill (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) nearly came back to win their match at No. 2 before falling, 7-9.

In singles, Tiurina, ranked fifth in the region, had no troubles at No. 1 cruising to a 6-2, 6-1 victory. Ashley Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado) and Osuna each had to come away with tiebreaking wins in a set. Ashley Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado) won the first set, 6-2, and then took the second in a tiebreaker, 7-6, at No. 3. Osuna opened with a 7-6 win in the first set and then rolled to a 6-2 win in the second set at No. 4. Emin only dropped three games in her match at No. 5 coming away with the 6-1, 6-2 win. Tiffany Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado ) went the distance in her match, as she dropped the first set, 4-6, but then came back strong to take the next two sets, 6-2, 10-6 and win her match at No. 6. Betz went three sets in her match at No. 2 before falling, 4-6, 6-1, 4-6.

With the win the Lady Mustangs are now 9-11 overall and 4-0 in RMAC play. The Lady Roadrunners fall to 3-14 overall and 0-3 in RMAC play. WNMU entered the match ranked 10^th in the region.

WNMU will return to action on Saturday against Colorado State University-Pueblo beginning at 9 a.m. It will also be senior day for the five Mustang seniors in Pauline Emin (Viry, France/Lycee Arbez Carme), Ganna Tiurina (Kiev, Ukraine/M.M. Gromov #227), Juan Pablo Fuentes (Guadalajara, Mexico), Alvaro Nunez (Madrid, Spain) and Omar Lopez (Naucalpan, Mexico).