ADA, Okla. – The Western New Mexico University tennis teams concluded their trip through Oklahoma against Northwest Missouri State and East Central. The men went 1-1, while the women finished 0-2.

On the men's side, No. 28 WNMU (9-8) did their best to stay with No. 14 Northwest Missouri State before an 8-1 setback. Although the Mustangs posted no points in doubles, a couple of them were close. At No. 2 behind junior Jean-Laurent Pageault (Perrigny, France/Academi des Hauts de Nimes)/freshman Liam Fraboulet (Lycee Kerraoul, Paimpol, France) they pushed it to the limit before falling just short, 8-9. Sophomore Pablo Santibanez (Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico/CETYS Universidad)/freshman Blayze O' Keefe posted five games in their match at No. 3 before a 5-8 loss. Redshirt sophomore Tristan Da Lio (Casablanca/Academie des Hauts de Nimes)/sophomore Vladimir Gnilozubov (Kazakhstan, Astana/Kazakhstan) dropped their match at the top flight, 1-8.

In singles, Fraboulet continued his strong play in his first season coming away with a 6-4, 7-5 win at No. 4. Pageault won six games at No. 1, 3-6, 3-6, Santibanez at No. 5 and O' Keefe at No. 6 each won four games in their matches with Santibanez dropping a 1-6, 3-6 match and O' Keefe a 3-6, 1-6 decision. Da Lio won two games in his match at No. 2 in the first set, 2-6, 0-6 and Gnilozubov suffered a 1-6, 1-6 loss at No. 3.

To close the trip, WNMU was able to just get past No. 45 East Central on the strength of their doubles play. WNMU won all three doubles and a few of them were close. Pageault/Fraboulet cruised to an 8-4 win at No. 2. Santibanez/O' Keefe came away with a solid 8-6 win at No. 3. Da Lio/Gnilozubov were nearly pushed to the limit but came away with the 9-7 win at the top flight.

In singles, the roles reversed as East Central began to make a comeback. WNMU was able to clinch the match though with wins coming at No. 1 and No. 4. Fraboulet dominated his match at No. 4 posting the 6-2, 6-0 win. Pageault fought through a tough 6-4 win in the first set to win going away 6-2 in the second. Da Lio at No. 2 and O' Keefe at No. 6 each went three sets. Da Lio won the first set, 6-2, but then fell 3-6, 4-6 in the final two sets. O' Keefe rallied from a 1-6 loss in the first set to win the second, 6-2, before a 5-10 loss in the third. Gnilozubov won four games in each set at No. 3, 4-6, 4-6, while Santibanez lost at No. 5, 2-6, 2-6.

On the women's side, WNMU (4-11) came close in each match before ultimately falling by the same scores of 6-3. In the first match against Northwest Missouri State, the Lady Mustangs were able to get a win in doubles. Senior Ashley Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado)/junior Gemma Goodland (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia/Maribyrnong College Sports Academy) grabbed the point at the top flight claiming the 8-5 victory. Senior Claudia Osuna (Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico/Tec Milenio )/redshirt sophomore Tiffany Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado ) at No. 2 and senior Diamond Morrill (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad)/junior Annely Heinze (San Luis Potosi, Mexico/Techologico de Monterrey) at No. 3 fell by the same totals of 4-8.

In singles, Goodland at No. 4 and Morrill at No. 6 collected points. Morrill was able to win hers in straight sets coming away with a back-and-forth 7-5 win in the first set to then cruise to a 6-1 win in the second. Goodland started strong rolling to a 6-1 opening set win and then after a 4-6 loss in the second, regrouped for a 6-3 win in the third. Ashley Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado) went the distance in her match at the top flight. Following a 4-6 setback in the first set, she answered with a 6-4 win in the second before a 2-6 loss in the third. Tiffany Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado ) won seven games in her match at No. 3, 3-6, 4-6, Osuna claimed four in her match at No. 2, 2-6, 2-6 and Heinze won three in her match at No. 5, 3-6, 0-6.

Going against East Central, the Lady Mustangs started even better in doubles winning two of the three. Ashley Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado)/Goodland rolled to an 8-3 win at the top flight. Morrill/Heinze nearly came away with the same score at No. 3 posting the 8-4 victory. Tiffany Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado )/Osuna at No. 2 fell, 3-8.

In singles, Heinze recorded the only point at No. 5. She was able to win a pair of close sets to win in straight sets. She opened with a 6-4 win and then took a 7-6 tiebreaker in the second. Osuna pushed hers to a third set at No. 2. After winning the first set, 6-4, she fell in the second 6-7 and then dropped a close 4-6 decision in the third. Ashley Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado) at the top flight, Tiffany Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado ) at No. 3 and Goodland at No. 4 all fell by the same scores of 5-7, 4-6. Morrill at No. 6 won five games before a 3-6, 2-6 setback.

The Lady Mustangs return to action this Friday when they will play at Division I New Mexico State and then against Texas-Permian Basin the following day. The men are off until April 1 when they will open RMAC play at MSU Denver.