SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The No. 28 Western New Mexico University men's tennis team posted the first big win of the spring season taking down No. 27 Point Loma, 5-4. The women's tennis team came close in a few of the matches before falling to the No. 31 Sea Lions, 8-1.

On the men's side, the Mustangs (3-4) delivered a big win against the host Sea Lions (2-6), 5-4.

In doubles, WNMU gave themselves the early advantage winning all three. Redshirt sophomore Tristan Da Lio (Casablanca/Academie des Hauts de Nimes)/sophomore Vladimir Gnilozubov (Kazakhstan, Astana/Kazakhstan) came away with a solid 8-6 win at the top flight. Sophomore Pablo Santibanez (Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico/CETYS Universidad)/freshman Blayze O'Keefe (Las Vegas, NV) also won by that same score of 8-6 at No. 3. Junior Jean-Laurent Pageault (Perrigny, France/Academi des Hauts de Nimes)/freshman Liam Fraboulet (Lycee Kerraoul, Paimpol, France) had the toughest of the matches at No. 2 coming away with the tight 9-8 victory.

In singles, WNMU got the clinching wins at No. 3 and No. 6 for the match. Da Lio at No. 3 won a first set tiebreaker, 7-6 and then sealed his match cruising to the 6-1 win in the second set. Santibanez at No. 6 had a similar result as he won the first set, 7-5 and then dominated in the second set, 6-2. Pageault and Fraboulet each went three sets before falling. Pageault at the top flight dropped the first set, 0-6, but quickly came back with a 6-4 second set win. He then wasn't able to come all the way back in the third, 3-6. Fraboulet also lost in the first set, 3-6, but responded strong with a 6-2 second set win. He came close in the third before finally bowing out a 4-6. Gnilozubov won four games at No. 2 but fell, 2-6, 2-6 and O'Keefe was down just 4-5 in the first set before retiring.

WNMU (1-5) pushed No. 31 Point Loma (4-2) in several of the matches before falling 8-1.

The Lady Mustangs came closest at No. 3 with senior Diamond Morrill (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad)/junior Annely Heinze (San Luis Potosi, Mexico/Techologico de Monterrey) grabbing five games before a 5-8 setback. Senior Ashley Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado)/junior Gemma Goodland (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia/Maribyrnong College Sports Academy) came away with four games at the top flight before falling, 4-8. Senior Claudia Osuna (Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico/Tec Milenio )/redshirt sophomore Tiffany Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado ) dropped their match 2-8 at No. 2.

In singles, Morrill claimed the point with a strong performance at No. 6. She won the first set, 6-4 and then after dropping the second, 4-6, she came back to win the super tiebreaker, 10-8. Ashley Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado) facing her sister at the top flight forced the match to a decisive third set. She won the opener, 6-3 and after a 0-6 second set, came close in the third before a 7-10 setback. Goodland nearly won her first set at No. 4 falling just short, 5-7 and then dropped the second, 0-6. Heinze won three games at No. 5 before a 2-6, 1-6 loss. Osuna at No. 2 and Tiffany Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado ) at No. 3 each fell by scores of 1-6, 0-6.

WNMU will face two more ranked teams Saturday in Azusa Pacific. The men will also face Sonoma State.