PUEBLO, Colo. – Both Western New Mexico University tennis teams advanced to the championship match of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament Friday. The No. 28 Mustangs won 5-1 over Colorado State University-Pueblo, while the Lady Mustangs again defeated MSU Denver 5-4 with senior Diamond Morrill (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) securing the winning point yet again.  

On the men's side, WNMU (14-9) opened up doubles play taking a 2-1 lead. Junior Jean-Laurent Pageault (Perrigny, France/Academi des Hauts de Nimes)/freshman Liam Fraboulet (Lycee Kerraoul, Paimpol, France) made quick work of their match at No. 2 with the 8-3 win. Redshirt sophomore Tristan Da Lio (Casablanca/Academie des Hauts de Nimes)/sophomore Vladimir Gnilozubov (Kazakhstan, Astana/Kazakhstan), ranked 24^th in the nation, came away with 8-5 win at the top flight. Junior Sascha Brechtel (Neustadt an der Weinstraße, Germany/Kurpfalz Gymnasium Mannheim )/sophomore Pablo Santibanez (Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico/CETYS Universidad) fell just short, 4-8, in their match at No. 3.

In singles, the Mustangs needed just three points to clinch and their four through six players dominated in straight sets to claim the win. Brechtel at No. 4 and Santibanez at No. 6 each won by the same scores of 6-1, 6-1. Fraboulet finished it off with a 6-1, 6-0 victory at No. 5.

WNMU will face Colorado Mesa for the RMAC Tournament crown Saturday at 9 a.m. The Mavericks defeated MSU Denver, 5-3, in their match earlier today.

On the women's side, the Lady Mustangs (8-15) went right down to the wire with MSU Denver just like earlier in the season. With the match on the line, Morrill was able to preserver and pull out the three-set win and help WNMU advance.

In doubles, WNMU was only able to get a point, which came at No. 3 with senior Claudia Osuna (Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico/Tec Milenio )/redshirt sophomore Tiffany Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado ) recording the 8-4 victory. Morrill/junior Annely Heinze (San Luis Potosi, Mexico/Techologico de Monterrey) fell 4-8 at No. 2 and senior Ashley Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado)/junior Gemma Goodland (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia/Maribyrnong College Sports Academy) suffered a 5-8 setback at the top flight.

The Lady Mustangs had to work their back in singles and they did just that. Heinze started it with a 6-3, 6-0 win at No. 5. Osuna added a tough 6-4, 7-5 win at No. 2 and then Goodland rallied from a 4-6 loss in the first set to win her match 6-0, 6-2 at No. 4. After Ashley Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado) fell at the top flight and her sister Tiffany Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado ) at No. 3 by the same scores of 2-6, 3-6, it all came down to Morrill's match at No. 6. She lost the first set just like earlier in the season, 6-7, but then fought back to win the second in a tiebreaker, 7-6. She then closed the deal with a 6-4 third set victory.

The win moves the Lady Mustangs on to the RMAC Tournament Championship match against Colorado Mesa University that will take place Saturday at noon. The Mavericks knocked out CSU-Pueblo, 5-2, earlier today.