LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Although Division I New Mexico State University was able to claim the 6-1 win against the No. 28 Western New Mexico University men's tennis team, they made things difficult.

It started right away with WNMU (13-9) winning the doubles point. Redshirt sophomore Tristan Da Lio (Casablanca/Academie des Hauts de Nimes)/sophomore Vladimir Gnilozubov (Kazakhstan, Astana/Kazakhstan) posted the 6-3 win at the top flight. Sophomore Pablo Santibanez (Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico/CETYS Universidad)/freshman Blayze O'Keefe (Las Vegas, NV) added a 6-3 win as well at No. 3. Junior Jean-Laurent Pageault (Perrigny, France/Academi des Hauts de Nimes)/freshman Liam Fraboulet (Lycee Kerraoul, Paimpol, France) were close in their match, trailing 4-5 when the doubles point had been clinched.

In singles, each match was decided in straight sets, but several were close. Junior Sascha Brechtel (Neustadt an der Weinstraße, Germany/Kurpfalz Gymnasium Mannheim ) won nine games in his match at No. 4, even taking one to a tiebreaker before falling, 3-6, 6-7. Pageault grabbed eight games in his match at the top flight before a 3-5, 5-7 setback. Santibanez earned seven games at No. 6, 5-7, 2-6. Da Lio rallied from a 1-6 loss in the first set in his match at No. 2 to come close in the second, 5-7. Gnilozubov fell, 0-6, 4-6 at No. 3 and Fraboulet dropped a 2-6, 1-6 decision at No. 5.

The Mustangs will now get set for the RMAC Tournament that will take place Apr. 22-23 in Pueblo, Colo. WNMU will enter as the top seed.