Tennis Battles Division I Grand Canyon

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Facing a tough task in Division I Grand Canyon, the Western New Mexico University men's tennis team tallied a point in singles before falling 6-1, while the women's team came close in a few matches before falling 7-0.

On the men's side, the Mustangs came close at No. 1 and No. 3 doubles posting four games in each match. Redshirt junior Tristan Da Lio (Casablanca/Academie des Hauts de Nimes)/junior Vladimir Gnilozubov (Kazakhstan, Astana/Kazakhstan) played at the top flight, while sophomores Blayze O'Keefe (Las Vegas, NV/Odyssey Charter)/Zachary Grabovic (South Bank, Australia/St. Kevin's College) played at No. 3. Senior Jean-Laurent Pageault (Perrigny, France/Academi des Hauts de Nimes)/sophomore Liam Fraboulet (Lycée Kerraoul, Paimpol, France/Lycée Kerraoul) competed in the other doubles at No. 2 falling 6-0.

In singles, Pageault tallied the point for the Mustangs as he rolled to the 6-4, 6-2 win at No. 2. Fraboulet won five games at the top flight, as after dropping the first set 6-1, he came close in the second, 6-4. Da Lio tallied three games at No. 4 as he had a tight first set, 6-3 before falling in the second, 6-1. O'Keefe at No. 5 and redshirt junior Sascha Brechtel (Neustadt an der Weinstraße, Germany/Kurpfalz Gymnasium Mannheim ) at No. 6 had the same scores of 6-1, 6-2, just reversed on sets with O'Keefe's going 6-1, 6-2 and Brechtel 6-2, 6-1. Gnilozubov at No. 3 came out strong in the first set before falling in straight sets 6-3, 6-0.

On the women's side, the Lady Mustangs had a close match at No. 2 doubles behind redshirt junior Tiffany Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado )/junior Jeanne Kolb (La Couroone, France/Lycée de l'Image et du Son ) as they won four games before falling 6-4. Seniors Annely Heinze (San Luis Potosi, Mexico/Techologico de Monterrey)/Gemma Goodland (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia/Maribyrnong College Sports Academy) at the top flight tallied two games before a 6-2 setback, while freshmen Nadia Justiniano (Santa Cruz, Bolivia)/Emma Siboni (Boulogne-Billancourt, France/Lycée La Fontaine) dropped their match at No. 3 6-1.

In singles, Goodland at No. 2 and freshman Karina Diaz (Laredo, TX/United) at No. 6 had similar scores with each winning four games. Goodland came back from a 6-1 loss in the first set to post three games in the second set 6-3, while Diaz started strong with three games in the first set 6-3 and then dropped the second 6-1. Siboni at No. 4 collected three games before falling 6-1, 6-2. Redshirt junior Tiffany Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado ) at the top flight and Justiniano at No. 5 fell by the same scores of 6-1, 6-1. Kolb in the final singles match at No. 3 fell 6-0, 6-1.

WNMU will be back in action today (Thursday) as they will play Mesa Community College.

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Players Mentioned

Gemma Goodland: 5' 8"; Senior

Annely Heinze: 5' 6"; Senior

Tiffany Newell: 5' 6"; Redshirt Junior

Jeanne Kolb: 5' 1"; Junior

Karina Diaz: 5' 2"; Freshman

Emma Siboni: 5' 2"; Freshman

Sascha Brechtel: 5' 9"; Redshirt Junior

Tristan Da Lio: 5' 11"; Redshirt Junior

Liam Fraboulet: 5' 11"; Sophomore

Vladimir Gnilozubov: 5' 8"; Junior

Players Mentioned

Gemma Goodland
: 5' 8"; Senior

Annely Heinze
: 5' 6"; Senior

Tiffany Newell
: 5' 6"; Redshirt Junior

Jeanne Kolb
: 5' 1"; Junior

Karina Diaz
: 5' 2"; Freshman

Emma Siboni
: 5' 2"; Freshman

Sascha Brechtel
: 5' 9"; Redshirt Junior

Tristan Da Lio
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Junior

Liam Fraboulet
: 5' 11"; Sophomore

Vladimir Gnilozubov
: 5' 8"; Junior