MIDLAND, Texas – It was a strong start to the week for the Western New Mexico University women's tennis team as they won a pair of 5-4 matches against New Mexico Military Institute and No. 43 Texas A&M-Kingsville. Then against No. 40 St. Edward's and No. 11 St. Mary's the Lady Mustangs fell by the same scores of 9-0.

In the opening match of the week, WNMU (4-8) won a tight 5-4 match against NMMI. In doubles, the Lady Mustangs moved out to a 2-1 lead. Senior Diamond Morrill (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad)/junior Annely Heinze (San Luis Potosi, Mexico/Techologico de Monterrey) cruised to a shutout 8-0 win at No. 3. Senior Ashley Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado)/junior Gemma Goodland (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia/Maribyrnong College Sports Academy) fought their way to an 8-4 win at the top flight, while senior Claudia Osuna (Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico/Tec Milenio )/redshirt sophomore Tiffany Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado ) fell at No. 2, 2-8.

In singles, Morrill shut down her opponent at No. 6 having no issues in her match in claiming the 6-0, 6-0 win. Nearly the same story for Heinze at No. 5 as she lost just one game in a 6-0, 6-1 win. Ashley Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado) grabbed the decisive point for the Lady Mustangs in the top flight and it was anything but easy. After a 2-6 loss in the first set, she came back strong winning the next two sets, 6-2, 6-3. Tiffany Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado ) nearly won her match in three sets also at No. 2. She won the first set, 7-5, and then after dropping the second set by that same score, she lost in a close third set, 7-10. Osuna at No. 3 and Goodland at No. 4 lost by identical scores of 4-6, 4-6.

The Lady Mustangs then had a big regional win over No. 43 Texas A&M-Kingsville, 5-4. Doubles was the key for WNMU, as they won all three. Ashley Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado)/Goodland got it started with an 8-3 win at No. 1. Tiffany Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado )/Osuna followed with an 8-4 win at No. 2 and then Heinze/Morrill made it a clean sweep collecting an 8-6 win at No. 3.

Singles went to the Javelinas, but the Lady Mustangs were able to win two big matches to seal the victory. Osuna at No. 3 and Goodland at No. 4 each won in three sets. Osuna lost her first set, 2-6, then came back to win the next two sets by the same scores of 6-3. Goodland won her first set, 6-3, then lost the second, 3-6, before keeping the 6-3 theme going by winning the match in the third, 6-3. Heinze grabbed seven matches at No. 5, 3-6, 4-6, Ashley Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado) at No. 1 and Morrill at No. 6 each won three games with Ashley Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado) falling, 2-6, 1-6 and Morrill by scores of 1-6, 2-6. Tiffany Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado ) lost at No. 2, 1-6, 1-6.

Against No. 40 St. Edward's, WNMU lost on paper 9-0, but were close in several matches. In doubles, WNMU fell just short at the top flight behind Ashley Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado)/Goodland, 6-8. Osuna/Tiffany Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado ) were just as close at No. 2 before a 5-8 setback. At No. 3, Morrill/Heinze fell by the score of 2-8.

In singles, both Ashley Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado) and Goodland went to three sets. In Ashley Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado)'s match at the top flight, she won the opener, 6-2. After dropping the second, 3-6, she then fell just short in the third, 5-10. Goodland at No. 4 also won her first set by the score of 6-2. A close 4-6 loss followed in the second and she came even closer in the third before an 8-10 decision. Morrill won seven games at No. 6, 4-6, 3-6, Osuna grabbed five at No. 3, 4-6, 1-6, Heinze posted four at No. 5, 3-6, 1-6 and Tiffany Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado ) fell at No. 2, 0-6, 0-6.

In the final match of the week, WNMU went against No. 11 St. Mary's and fell, 9-0. It was a rematch from last year's regional matchup. In doubles, Ashley Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado)/Goodland at the top flight were close before an 5-8 loss. Heinze/Morrill grabbed four games at No. 3 before 4-8 loss. Tiffany Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado )/Osuna lost at No. 2, 0-8.

In singles, Goodland won six games at No. 4, 4-6, 2-6, Heinze grabbed four games at No. 5, 1-6, 3-6, Osuna and Tiffany Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado ) each won three games in their matches with Osuna falling, 3-6, 0-6 at No. 2 and Tiffany Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado ) at No. 3, 0-6, 3-6. Morrill fell by the same score of 1-6 in each set at No. 6 and Ashley Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado) fell, 1-6, 0-6 at the top flight.

WNMU will face a pair of ranked teams this coming week on their trip to Oklahoma against No. 22 Midwestern State and No. 20 Cameron. They will also face Northwest Missouri State and East Central.