Men’s Tennis Takes Care of NMMI in Regular Season Home Opener

SILVER CITY, N.M. – After taking a lead out of doubles, the Western New Mexico University men's tennis team finished the deal in singles to take down New Mexico Military Institute 7-2 Saturday in the regular season home opener for the Mustangs.

In doubles, Pablo Santibanez (Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico/CETYS Universidad)/Jose Mario Neto rolled to an 8-0 win at No. 3. Liam Fraboulet (Lycée Kerraoul, Paimpol, France/Lycée Kerraoul)/David Valles fought off a tough challenge at the top flight, but claimed the second point for the Mustangs with the 8-6 victory. In the final doubles match at No. 2, Zachary Grabovic (Melbourne, Australia/St. Kevin's College)/Niko Barr nearly made it a clean sweep before falling just short, 6-8.

In singles action, Neto was the first to finish as he absolutely dominated in his match at No. 6 cruising to the 6-0, 6-0 win. Grabovic added a strong 6-3, 6-2 win at No. 5 and then Santibanez at No. 2 sealed the victory for the Mustangs with his 6-3, 6-4 win. Fraboulet and Valles each had to work extra time in a third set to pick up wins. Fraboulet claimed a first set tiebreaking win, 7-6 (8) and after falling in the second set, 3-6, he regrouped to tally the 10-6 win in the third to take the victory at No. 1. Valles also went into a tiebreaker in his first set claiming the 7-6 (6) win. After a 4-6 loss in the second, he came right back with a 10-4 win in the third to tally the seventh and final point for the Mustangs at No. 4. In the other singles match, Barr played at No. 3 and everything started out great as he roared to a 6-0 win in the first. After dropping the second set, 5-7, he was behind 1-4 in the third before retiring.

WNMU will now travel to Las Cruces this coming Friday and Saturday, as they will face New Mexico State on Friday and then UT Arlington on Saturday.

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Players Mentioned

Liam Fraboulet: 5' 11"; Sophomore

Pablo Santibanez: 6' 1"; Junior

Zachary Grabovic: 6' 0"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Liam Fraboulet
: 5' 11"; Sophomore

Pablo Santibanez
: 6' 1"; Junior

Zachary Grabovic
: 6' 0"; Sophomore