Tennis Teams Face Tough Challenge at Cameron

LAWTON, Okla. – Starting a three-match road swing in Oklahoma Friday, the Western New Mexico University tennis teams faced a tough challenge from Cameron University as the Aggies took both matches, 9-0 on the women's side and 8-1 on the men's side in Lone Star Conference action.

On the women's side, WNMU (2-14, 0-3 LSC) went against #15 Cameron (11-5, 2-1 LSC) and the Aggies started strong grabbing all three doubles points. Nadia Justiniano (Santa Cruz, Bolivia/Santa Cruz International School)/Karina Diaz (Laredo, TX/United) at No. 2 won three games, 3-8, Jeanne Kolb (La Couronne, France/Lycée de l'Image et du Son)/Klara Smolikova (Jihlava, Czech Republic/Jihlava) tallied two games at the top flight, 2-8, while Kaycie Cormier (Douglas, AZ/Douglas)/Christine Roerick (Albuquerque, NM/La Cueva) ran into a tough matchup at No. 3, 0-8.

In singles, Smolikova won five games in her match at the top flight, 3-6, 2-6. Justiniano at No. 2 and Diaz at No. 3 each won three games and fell by the same scores of 1-6, 2-6. The other three singles matches all were tough matchups for the Lady Mustangs as Kolb fell, 0-6, 1-6 at No. 3, Roerick at No. 5, 0-6, 0-6 and Cormier at No. 6, 1-6, 0-6.

On the men's side, WNMU (3-14, 0-2 LSC) faced No. 46 Cameron (6-9, 1-0 LSC) and the Aggies also used a strong start in doubles to move out to the early advantage. This year, doubles have been a strength for the Mustangs, but Cameron was able to jump out early and never look back. Zachary Grabovic (Melbourne, Australia/St. Kevin's College)/Niko Barr (Whakatane, New Zealand/Trident) at No. 2 came the closest as they won six games before a 6-8 loss. Pablo Santibanez (Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico/CETYS Universidad)/David Valles (Guadalajara, Mexico/HYCIG) tallied four games at No. 3, 4-8, while Vladimir Gnilozubov (Kazakhstan, Astana/Kazakhstan)/Liam Fraboulet (Lycée Kerraoul, Paimpol, France/Lycée Kerraoul) won two games at the top flight, 2-8.

In singles, Grabovic picked up the win for the Mustangs at No. 4. He had to battle back from dropping the first set in a tiebreaker, 6-7, to win the final two sets 6-4 and 10-7. Fraboulet at the top flight, Barr at No. 3 and Valles at No. 5 all won five games in their matches, 3-6, 2-6. Gnilozubov at No. 2 and Jose Mario Neto (Curitiba, Brazil/Colegio Padre Joao Bagozzi) at No. 6 had tough challenges in their matchups as they were defeated 0-6, 1-6.

The road won't get any easier on Saturday as WNMU will travel to Wichita Falls to face Midwestern State ranked No. 15 on the women's side and No. 18 on the men's side starting at 8 a.m. Mountain Time.

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Players Mentioned

Liam Fraboulet: 5' 11"; Junior

Vladimir Gnilozubov: 5' 8"; Senior

Zachary Grabovic: 6' 0"; Senior

Pablo Santibanez: 6' 1"; 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

Players Mentioned

Liam Fraboulet
: 5' 11"; Junior

Vladimir Gnilozubov
: 5' 8"; Senior

Zachary Grabovic
: 6' 0"; Senior

Pablo Santibanez
: 6' 1"; 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