SILVER CITY, N.M. – The Western New Mexico University tennis teams played their home Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference openers Friday with the No. 28 Mustangs cruising to the 5-1 win over Colorado Mesa University, while the women made a late run before coming up just short, 5-4.

On the men's side, WNMU (12-8, 3-0 RMAC) dominated the Mavericks out of the gate and never looked back. The Mustangs jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead after sweeping doubles. Redshirt sophomore Tristan Da Lio (Casablanca/Academie des Hauts de Nimes)/sophomore Vladimir Gnilozubov (Kazakhstan, Astana/Kazakhstan) grabbed the 8-5 win at the top flight. Junior Jean-Laurent Pageault (Perrigny, France/Academi des Hauts de Nimes)/freshman Liam Fraboulet (Lycee Kerraoul, Paimpol, France) added to that an 8-3 win at No. 2 and then junior Sascha Brechtel (Neustadt an der Weinstraße, Germany/Kurpfalz Gymnasium Mannheim )/freshman Blayze O'Keefe (Las Vegas, NV) made it a clean sweep posting the 8-4 win at No. 3.

In singles, only three matches were completed due to rain that forced delays during the match. Gnilozubov won his match in straight sets at No. 3, 7-5, 6-1. Da Lio had to fight back to win his match in three sets, as he lost the first set, 4-6, then cruised to the 6-1, 6-1 win. Pageault came close in each of his sets, but wasn't able to win at the top flight falling, 6-7, 5-7.

On the women's side, WNMU (6-15, 2-1 RMAC) fell just short to Colorado Mesa, as several of the matches went down to the wire. In doubles, senior Claudia Osuna (Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico/Tec Milenio )/redshirt sophomore Tiffany Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado ) picked up the only point for the Lady Mustangs taking the 8-3 win at No. 3. Senior Ashley Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado)/junior Gemma Goodland (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia/Maribyrnong College Sports Academy) came oh so close to claiming their match at the top flight, coming back from an early deficit to force a tiebreaker before falling, 8-9. Senior Diamond Morrill (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad)/junior Annely Heinze (San Luis Potosi, Mexico/Techologico de Monterrey) also were close in their match at No. 2 and the fell just short, 6-8.

In singles, Tiffany Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado ) and Heinze each won in straight sets. Tiffany Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado ) went to a tiebreaker in each set, but posted a 7-6, 7-6 win at No. 3. Heinze fought through a tough 7-5 opening set win in her match at No. 5 and then cruised to the 6-1 second set win. Goodland went three sets, coming back multiple times in her match to claim the win at No. 4. She won the first set 6-4 and then after an 0-6 second set, came back from an early 0-3 deficit to take the 6-4 win. Ashley Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado) and Osuna each forced their matches to three sets before coming up just short. Ashley Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado) won her first set 6-4 in her match at the top flight and then after a 2-6 loss in the second, rallied from a 1-5 deficit in the third before dropping the close 5-7 set. Osuna did nearly the same thing in her match at No. 2 as she won the first set 6-4 and then dropped the second, 2-6. She then was tied at three in the third before dropping the set 3-6. Morrill fell at No. 6, 1-6, 1-6.

WNMU will wrap up the regular season tomorrow (Saturday) when they host Colorado Christian starting at 9 a.m. It will be senior day for the three Mustang seniors in Ashley Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado), Claudia Osuna (Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico/Tec Milenio ) and Diamond Morrill (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad).