No. 24 Men’s Tennis Nearly Upsets No. 14 UC San Diego, Then Win Three Straight to Close Trip

SAN DIEGO/EL CAJON, Calif. – After taking No. 14 UC San Diego to the limit, the No. 24 Western New Mexico University men's tennis team came back strong following a 6-3 setback to the nationally-ranked Tritons to defeat Division I Bucknell 7-0, Grossmont 9-0 and San Diego Christian 7-2 this past week.

To start the trip against No. 14 UC San Diego, the Mustangs got the beginning they wanted moving out to a 2-1 lead after doubles. The No. 3 ranked tandem of redshirt junior Tristan Da Lio (Casablanca/Academie des Hauts de Nimes)/junior Vladimir Gnilozubov (Kazakhstan, Astana/Kazakhstan) pulled out another win 8-6 at the top flight. Sophomores Blayze O'Keefe (Las Vegas, NV/Odyssey Charter)/Zachary Grabovic (South Bank, Australia/St. Kevin's College) came through in a tough match at No. 3 as they were able to win a tiebreaker for the 9-8 victory. Senior Jean-Laurent Pageault (Perrigny, France/Academi des Hauts de Nimes)/sophomore Liam Fraboulet (Lycée Kerraoul, Paimpol, France/Lycée Kerraoul) fell at No. 2 8-3.

In singles, the Tritons showed their strength as they were able to take five of the matches for the win. WNMU tallied the only point at No. 5 behind redshirt junior Sascha Brechtel (Neustadt an der Weinstraße, Germany/Kurpfalz Gymnasium Mannheim ) as he battled for a 7-6 tiebreaking win in the opening set and then rolled to a 6-3 win in the second. Gnilozubov at No. 3 and Da Lio at No. 4 each went three sets. Gnilozubov won the first set 6-4, but then fell in the next two sets 2-6, 4-6. Da Lio dropped the first set 1-6, but then came back with a 6-4 win in the second before falling in the third 4-6. Fraboulet tallied four games at No. 1 before a 3-6, 1-6 loss, Pageault won three games at No. 2 before a 1-6, 2-6 setback and Grabovic at No. 6 fell 2-6, 0-6.

After that match, the Mustangs cruised the rest of the road swing. WNMU blasted Division I Bucknell, as they were only really threatened of dropping a point in one singles match. In doubles, Da Lio/Gnilozubov rolled at the top flight 6-1, Pageault/Fraboulet added a 6-2 win at No. 2 and then O'Keefe/Grabovic made it a clean sweep with a 6-3 win at No. 3. With it being Division I rules, doubles only counted for one point.

In singles, WNMU won five of the matches in straight sets as Pageault rolled at No. 2, 6-2, 6-2, Gnilozubov at No. 3, 6-1, 6-2, Da Lio at No. 4, 6-4, 6-4, Brechtel at No. 5, 6-1 6-4 and Grabovic at No. 6, 6-4, 6-2. Fraboulet had to battle to give the Mustangs the 7-0 sweep at No. 1 as he lost the first set, 3-6, but then rallied to take the second 6-3, before ending the match with a 10-8 win in the third.

In the third match of the week against Grossmont, WNMU cruised to the 9-0 victory. In doubles, the Mustangs lost a total of just two games over the three matches. Da Lio/Gnilozubov posted an 8-0 shutout at the top flight and then Pageault/Fraboulet at No. 2 and O'Keefe/Grabovic at No. 3 won by the same tally of 8-1.

In singles, Gnilozubov at No. 3 and O'Keefe at No. 5 each rolled up perfect 6-0, 6-0 victories. Da Lio at No. 4 and Grabovic at No. 6 won by the same scores of 6-1, 6-0. Pageault added a 6-1, 6-2 win at No. 2 and then Fraboulet capped the victory as after claiming the first set 6-4, his opponent retired.

WNMU made it a 3-1 week after taking down San Diego Christian 7-2. In doubles, Pageault/Fraboult cruised to an 8-0 win at No. 2. Da Lio/Gnilozubov had to work again at the top flight, but they were able to claim the 9-8 victory. O'Keefe/Grabovic gave the Mustangs the 3-0 lead after doubles with a 9-7 win at No. 3.

In singles, Brechtel at No. 5, Grabovic at No. 6 and Da Lio at No. 4 were able to win in straight sets to clinch the match. Brechtel rolled to a 6-1, 6-1 win, while Grabovic had to work for his win at No. 6, but claimed the 6-4, 6-4 win. Da Lio worked his way to a 7-6 win in the opening set and then claimed the 6-4 second set win. Fraboulet went three sets at the top flight as he rallied from a 3-6 setback in the first set, to win the next two 6-4, 7-5. Gnilozubov at No. 3 went the distance in his first set falling just short in a tiebreaker, 6-7 and then fell in the second 1-6. Pageault ran into a tough matchup at No. 2 as he fell 3-6, 2-6.

The Mustangs, now 9-5 on the season, remain ranked fourth in the latest ITA South Central Region poll and will play another set of matches this coming week as they will play in Dallas against nationally-ranked Southeastern Oklahoma, Newman and MSU Denver Mar. 23-25.

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Players Mentioned

Sascha Brechtel: 5' 9"; Redshirt Junior

Tristan Da Lio: 5' 11"; Redshirt Junior

Liam Fraboulet: 5' 11"; Sophomore

Vladimir Gnilozubov: 5' 8"; Junior

Blayze O'Keefe: 6' 0"; Sophomore

Jean-Laurent Pageault: 5' 11"; Senior

Zachary Grabovic: 6' 0"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Sascha Brechtel
: 5' 9"; Redshirt Junior

Tristan Da Lio
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Junior

Liam Fraboulet
: 5' 11"; Sophomore

Vladimir Gnilozubov
: 5' 8"; Junior

Blayze O'Keefe
: 6' 0"; Sophomore

Jean-Laurent Pageault
: 5' 11"; Senior

Zachary Grabovic
: 6' 0"; Sophomore