Tennis Opens LSC Slate Versus UTPB

Women's Stats

Men's Stats

SILVER CITY, N.M. – Both Western New Mexico University tennis teams stayed right with UT Permian Basin, but the Falcons claimed a pair of 6-3 victories in the Lone Star Conference opener on Saturday.

On the women's side, WNMU (2-12, 0-1 LSC) grabbed a doubles win over UT Permian Basin (6-9) at the top flight behind Jeanne Kolb (La Couronne, France/Lycée de l'Image et du Son)/Klara Smolikova (Czech Republic), 8-4. Nadia Justiniano (Santa Cruz, Bolivia/Santa Cruz International School)/Karina Diaz (Laredo, TX/United) won three games at No. 2, 3-8 and Christine Roerick (Albuquerque, NM/La Cueva)/Kaycie Cormier (Douglas, AZ/) grabbed two games at No. 3, 2-8.

Smolikova at the top flight and Kolb at No. 3 posted the other two points for the Lady Mustangs. Smolikova cruised to a 6-3, 6-1 win and then Kolb added a solid 6-2, 6-0 win in her match. Diaz pushed for the win at No. 4 as she won the first set, 6-4, and then dropped a close 5-7 second set before falling in the third, 3-6. Roerick won six games in her match at No. 5, 4-6, 2-6 and both Justiniano at No. 2 and Cormier at No. 6 fell by the same scores of 1-6, 3-6.

On the men's side, the Mustangs (3-13, 0-1 LSC) faced the No. 39 ranked team in the nation in UTPB as they picked up their seventh (7-11) win of the year. WNMU started out strong in doubles as they have the past few matches as they jumped out to a 2-1 lead. Vladimir Gnilozubov (Kazakhstan, Astana/Kazakhstan)/Liam Fraboulet (Lycée Kerraoul, Paimpol, France/Lycée Kerraoul) rolled to an 8-3 win at the top flight. Zachary Grabovic (Melbourne, Australia/St. Kevin's College)/Niko Barr (Whakatane, New Zealand/Trident) added an 8-5 win at No. 2. David Valles (Guadalajara, Mexico/HYCIG)/Jose Mario Neto (Curitiba, Brazil/Colegio Padre Joao Bagozzi) won five games in their match at No. 3, 5-8.

In singles, Gnilozubov was the only one able to pick up a victory at No. 2 as he fought past a battle in the first set to take the win 7-6, 6-2. Barr looked to be in good shape in his match at No. 3 as he won the opening set, 6-3, but then ran into trouble in the next two sets falling, 2-6, 0-6. Grabovic went the distance in his first set at No. 4 as he lost in a tiebreaker, 6-7 and then fell in the second, 3-6. Neto battled in his match at No. 6 claiming eight games, 3-6, 5-7. Fraboulet nearly claimed a win in his first set at the top flight against No. 7 ranked Raul Stevens before falling just short, 4-6, 1-6. In the final singles match at No. 5, Valles fell, 1-6, 0-6.

The Lady Mustangs will have a quick turnaround as they will host Angelo State tomorrow (Saturday) starting at 10 a.m. at the WNMU Tennis Courts. The Mustangs will return to play next Friday when they will play at Cameron.

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Players Mentioned

Liam Fraboulet: 5' 11"; Junior

Vladimir Gnilozubov: 5' 8"; Senior

Zachary Grabovic: 6' 0"; Senior

Jose Mota Neto: 5' 7"; Freshman

David Valles: 5' 9"; Freshman

Niko Barr: 6' 0"; Junior

Karina Diaz: 5' 2"; Sophomore

Nadia Justiniano: 5' 9"; Sophomore

Jeanne Kolb: 5' 1"; Senior

Christine Roerick: 5' 8"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Liam Fraboulet
: 5' 11"; Junior

Vladimir Gnilozubov
: 5' 8"; Senior

Zachary Grabovic
: 6' 0"; Senior

Jose Mota Neto
: 5' 7"; Freshman

David Valles
: 5' 9"; Freshman

Niko Barr
: 6' 0"; Junior

Karina Diaz
: 5' 2"; Sophomore

Nadia Justiniano
: 5' 9"; Sophomore

Jeanne Kolb
: 5' 1"; Senior

Christine Roerick
: 5' 8"; Freshman