Tennis Closes Texas Trip With Regional Matchup with St. Mary’s

WICHITA FALLS, Texas – It was a tough three match stretch for the Western New Mexico University tennis teams and they finished the weekend on Sunday against another nationally ranked team in St. Mary's. The Rattlers won both matches taking the women's 8-1, while the men's was a fight before claiming the 6-3 victory.

On the women's side, WNMU (2-17) faced No. 9 St. Mary's (14-3) and in doubles, Nadia Justiniano (Santa Cruz, Bolivia/Santa Cruz International School)/Karina Diaz (Laredo, TX/United) came closest picking up two games before falling at No. 2, 2-8. Jeanne Kolb (La Couronne, France/Lycée de l'Image et du Son)/Klara Smolikova (Jihlava, Czech Republic/Jihlava) went against the No. 2 ranked doubles pair in the nation at the top flight and fell, 0-8. Kaycie Cormier (Douglas, AZ/Douglas)/Christine Roerick (Albuquerque, NM/La Cueva) fell by the same score at No. 3, 0-8.

In singles, Smolikova tallied yet another win at the top flight as she was leading 3-2 in the first set against No. 12 Kaylin Kruseman before Kruseman retired giving Smolikova the win. Kolb pushed her match to three sets at No. 3. She started strong winning the first set, 6-4, but then fell in the next two sets, 2-6, 3-10. Justiniano won three games at No. 2, 1-6, 2-6, Diaz won two at No. 4, 1-6, 1-6, Cormier won a game at No. 6, 0-6, 1-6 and Roerick fell at No. 5, 0-6, 0-6.

On the men's side, the Mustangs (3-16) made things difficult for the No. 18 ranked St. Mary's Rattlers (11-5). In doubles, WNMU came out strong picking up two points. Zachary Grabovic (Melbourne, Australia/St. Kevin's College)/Niko Barr (Whakatane, New Zealand/Trident) at No. 2 rolled to an 8-2 win and then Pablo Santibanez (Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico/CETYS Universidad)/David Valles (Guadalajara, Mexico/HYCIG) added a convincing 8-3 win at No. 3. Vladimir Gnilozubov (Kazakhstan, Astana/Kazakhstan)/Liam Fraboulet (Lycée Kerraoul, Paimpol, France/Lycée Kerraoul) ran into a tough matchup with the No. 7 ranked duo in the nation at the top flight and were defeated, 0-8.

In singles, Grabovic pulled out a point at No. 4, but it wasn't easy. He fought to a pair of tiebreakers before winning in straight sets, 7-6, 7-6. Fraboulet at the top flight and Barr at No. 3 each took their matches to three sets. Fraboulet ran away with the first set, 6-3, but then had a tough time in the following sets against No. 10 Jeremiah Gonzalez as Gonzalez took the next two sets, 6-3, 6-3 to edge out Fraboulet. Barr did the same as he won his opening set 7-5, but then ran into a tough time in the following sets falling, 2-6, 3-6. Valles won six games in his match at No. 5, 4-6, 2-6, Gnilozubov won five games at No. 2, 3-6, 2-6 and Jose Mario Neto (Curitiba, Brazil/Colegio Padre Joao Bagozzi) won four games at No. 6, 2-6, 2-6.

The Lady Mustangs will return to action this week when they will host Tarleton State on Friday and then Texas A&M-Kingsville on Saturday with both matches starting at 10 a.m. The Mustangs will be off until Apr. 18 when they will play at New Mexico State starting at 1 p.m.

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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