Women’s Tennis Battles Against Pair of Nationally-Ranked Teams

SAN DIEGO/AZUSA, Calif. – It was a tough road trip to California for the Western New Mexico University women's tennis team as they had to face a pair of top-25 teams in #24 Point Loma and #25 Azusa Pacific. The Lady Mustangs fell in both contests by the same scores of 9-0, but had some strong showings in the results.

To start the week on Friday, WNMU faced Point Loma and won a pair of games in two doubles matches. At the top flight, seniors Annely Heinze (San Luis Potosi, Mexico/Techologico de Monterrey) and Gemma Goodland (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia/Maribyrnong College Sports Academy) tallied two games before an 8-2 loss, while redshirt junior Tiffany Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado )/freshman Karina Diaz (Laredo, TX/United) snagged two games at No. 3 and lost by the same score of 8-2. At No. 2, freshmen Nadia Justiniano (Santa Cruz, Bolivia/Santa Cruz International School) and Emma Siboni (Boulogne-Billancourt, France/Lycée La Fontaine) fell 8-0.

In singles, Heinze had the best first set of the group playing at No. 2 as she grabbed four games in the opening set before falling in straight sets 6-4, 6-0. Justiniano at No. 5 had a reverse of Heinze as she tallied four games in the second set and won six games overall before losing 6-2, 6-4. Goodland won four games overall in her match at No. 3 and the sets were the same score of 6-2 in both. Newell at the top flight and Siboni at No. 4 each won a game but lost 6-1, 6-0 for Newell and 6-0, 6-1 for Sibnoi. In the final singles match, Diaz fell at No. 6, 6-0, 6-0.

To close the trip, WNMU faced Azusa Pacific. The Cougars had to fight to win all three doubles. The Lady Mustangs tallied four games at both the top flight and at No. 3. Heinze and Goodland played at No. 1, while Newell and Diaz played at No. 3 with both playing close matches before 8-4 losses. In the other doubles match at No. 2, Siboni and Justiniano fell 8-0.

In singles, Diaz won the most games at No. 6 with six. She came away with three games in both sets before falling 6-3, 6-3. Newell at the top flight and Goodland at No. 3 fell by the same scores of 6-1, 6-2. Heinze at No. 2, Siboni at No. 4 and Justiniano at No. 5 all ran into tough opponents and fell by identical scores of 6-0, 6-0.

The final match of the trip against Holy Names was cancelled due to weather. The Lady Mustangs will return to action on Mar. 9-11 when they will play UT Permian Basin, St. Mary's and St. Edward's in Midland, Texas.

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Players Mentioned

Gemma Goodland: 5' 8"; Senior

Annely Heinze: 5' 6"; Senior

Tiffany Newell: 5' 6"; Redshirt Junior

Karina Diaz: 5' 2"; Freshman

Emma Siboni: 5' 2"; Freshman

Nadia Justiniano: Freshman

Players Mentioned

Gemma Goodland
: 5' 8"; Senior

Annely Heinze
: 5' 6"; Senior

Tiffany Newell
: 5' 6"; Redshirt Junior

Karina Diaz
: 5' 2"; Freshman

Emma Siboni
: 5' 2"; Freshman

Nadia Justiniano
: Freshman