Western New Mexico University Athletics

Dean Thompson, Silver City Daily Press

Tiffany Newell, left, and Vladimir Gnilozubov each claimed wins against NMMI.

Men's Tennis 2/4/2017 4:12:00 PM Brian Kortz

Tennis Cruises to Pair of 9-0 Wins Over NMMI

SILVER CITY, N.M. – It was a strong start to the spring season for the Western New Mexico University tennis teams as both the men and women rolled to 9-0 victories over New Mexico Military Institute on Saturday.

On the women's side, the Lady Mustangs didn't drop a set in any of their singles matches and rolled in doubles. Seniors Annely Heinze (San Luis Potosi, Mexico/Techologico de Monterrey)/Gemma Goodland (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia/Maribyrnong College Sports Academy) had a tough fight at the No. 1 doubles slot before claiming the 8-4 win. Junior Jeanne Kolb (La Couroone, France/Lycée de l'Image et du Son )/redshirt junior Tiffany Newell (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado ) had no troubles at No. 2 taking the 8-0 win. In the final doubles match, freshman Emma Siboni (Boulogne-Billancourt, France/Lycée La Fontaine)/freshman Nadia Justiniano (Santa Cruz, Bolivia) dropped just one game in the 8-1 victory.

In singles, No. 3 through No. 6 all won 6-0, 6-0. Goodland played at No. 3, Kolb at No. 4, Siboni at No. 5 and freshman Karina Diaz (Laredo, TX/United) at No. 6. Newell won her match at the top flight by the same scores of 6-3 each set, while Heinze claimed the 6-1, 6-3 win at No. 2 to give WNMU the clean sweep.

On the men's side, the Mustangs started out already ahead 5-0 as NMMI only had three players and had to forfeit points at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles, along with No. 4 through No. 6 singles. Redshirt junior Sascha Brechtel (Neustadt an der Weinstraße, Germany/Kurpfalz Gymnasium Mannheim )/sophomore Blayze O'Keefe (Las Vegas, NV/Odyssey Charter) played the only doubles match at the top flight and posted the 8-3 win.

In singles, Brechtel gave up the least amount of points at No. 3 dropping just four games as he won each set by a score of 6-2. Junior Vladimir Gnilozubov (Kazakhstan, Astana/Kazakhstan) nearly had the same scores in his match at No. 1 coming away with the 6-3, 6-2 win. In the final singles match, O'Keefe had a tough fight at No. 2 as he won the first set, 6-4, then had to muscle out a tiebreaker in the second set for the 7-6 win.

The Lady Mustangs will turn around and face Eastern Arizona on Wednesday at home starting at noon. The men will return to action on Feb. 15 when they will play at Division I Grand Canyon.

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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

Vladimir Gnilozubov: 5' 8"; Junior

Blayze O'Keefe: 6' 0"; Sophomore

Nadia Justiniano: Freshman

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

Vladimir Gnilozubov
: 5' 8"; Junior

Blayze O'Keefe
: 6' 0"; Sophomore

Nadia Justiniano
: Freshman