PHOENIX, Ariz. – The Western New Mexico University tennis teams began their spring season Thursday in Phoenix with both teams facing Mesa Community College and Grand Canyon University. The men defeated Mesa CC, 7-2, before falling to Grand Canyon, 7-0. The women nearly defeated Mesa CC, but fell just short, 6-3, and then posted a point against Grand Canyon before a 6-1 loss.

On the men's side, the Mustangs posted a 7-2 win over Mesa Community College. WNMU swept doubles play with freshmen Blayze O'Keefe (Las Vegas, NV) and Liam Fraboulet (Lycee Kerraoul, Paimpol, France) cruising to the 8-1 win at No. 3. Juniors Sascha Brechtel (Neustadt an der Weinstraße, Germany/Kurpfalz Gymnasium Mannheim ) and Jean-Laurent Pageault (Perrigny, France/Academi des Hauts de Nimes) added an 8-4 win at No. 2, while sophomores Vladimir Gnilozubov (Kazakhstan, Astana/Kazakhstan) and Tristan Da Lio (Casablanca/Academie des Hauts de Nimes) claimed the 8-5 win at the top spot.

In singles, the Mustangs pulled out victories at No. 1, No. 2, No. 5 and No. 6. Gnilozubov had the easiest time of the group as he rolled to the 6-4, 6-2 win at No. 2. Freshman Pablo Santibanez (Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico/CETYS Universidad) at No. 5 and Fraboulet at No. 6 won by identical scores of 6-2, 7-6. Pageault added the fourth singles win at the top flight coming away with the 3-6, 7-6, 11-9 hard-fought win. Da Lio fell at No. 3, 3-6, 1-6, while O'Keefe came close in his first set at No. 4 before falling in straight sets, 5-7, 2-6.

The Mustangs then faced Grand Canyon and fell, 7-0. WNMU was able to get a pair of games in doubles play with Gnilozubov and Da Lio and No. 1 and Brechtel and O'Keefe at No. 2 with both falling, 6-2. Santibanez and Fraboulet lost at No. 3, 6-0.

In singles, Brechtel came close to pulling out his match at No. 2. He started strong winning the first set, 6-2, but then dropped the next two sets, 2-6 and 0-6. Gnilozubov pushed his first set nearly to a tiebreaker before falling at No. 3, 5-7, 1-6. O'Keefe at No. 5 won six games before falling, 4-6, 2-6. Da Lio grabbed two games in each set at No. 4 before a 2-6, 2-6 defeat. Santibanez at No. 6 went down, 0-6, 3-6 and Pageault at the top flight dropped the first set, 3-6 and then retired in the second set.

On the women's side, the Lady Mustangs posted three points against Mesa Community College, but came up short, 6-3. WNMU had to forfeit two of the matches with senior Claudia Osuna (Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico/Tec Milenio ) out of the lineup. In doubles, senior Ashley Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado) and junior Gemma Goodland (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia/Maribyrnong College Sports Academy) recorded an 8-5 win at the top flight. MCC then took the next two doubles matches with junior Annely Heinze (San Luis Potosi, Mexico/Techologico de Monterrey) and redshirt sophomore Tiffany Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado ) falling at No. 2, 5-8. MCC then won at No. 3 by default.

In singles, WNMU posted victories at No. 3 and No. 4. Tiffany Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado ) cruised in her match at No. 3 posting a solid 6-3, 6-2 win. Heinze had to battle for her win at No. 4 as she went to a tiebreaker in both sets before winning, 7-6, 7-6. Ashley Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado) at No. 1 and Goodland at No. 2 each went three sets. Ashley Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado) came back from losing the first set, 3-6, to win the second, 7-5. She then fell in the third, 0-6. Goodland opened strong grabbing the first set in a tiebreaker, 7-6, but then lost the next two sets, 0-6, 3-6. Senior Diamond Morrill (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) grabbed three games at No. 5 before falling, 1-6, 2-6. MCC then picked up the final singles point by default.

Against Grand Canyon, the Lady Mustangs recorded a win in singles but the Lopes came away with the 6-1 victory. In doubles, Heinze and Tiffany Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado ) at No. 2 came the closest to picking up a win falling just short, 4-6. Ashley Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado) and Goodland at the top flight grabbed three games before a 3-6 loss and at No. 3, Osuna and Morrill earned two games before a 2-6 defeat.

In singles, Osuna picked up the point at No. 4 as she won a tight 6-4 first set only to come back and win going away in the second set, 6-1. Ashley Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado) won four games at the top flight before a 1-6, 3-6 setback. Goodland fell at No. 2, 1-6, 1-6, Tiffany Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado ) at No. 3, 2-6, 1-6, Heinze at No. 5, 2-6, 0-6 and Morrill at No. 6, 0-6, 0-6.

WNMU will face Arizona Christian today (Friday) to wrap up their three games to start the spring season in Phoenix.