LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The Western New Mexico University men's tennis team played a doubleheader against Northern Arizona and New Mexico State. The Mustangs had strong showings against NAU before falling 6-1. Versus NMSU, the two teams played to clinch, as the Aggies won 4-0.
MATCH ONE:
The Mustangs had the Lumberjacks in an uncomfortable feeling at No. 3 doubles. Brendan Lock (Cheyenne, Wyoming/Cheyenne South HS) and Yu Jhe Du (New Taipei City/Taiwan/Taipei Municipal Jianguo High School) forced a tiebreaker before falling 7-6 (7-3). No. 1 doubles with Patricio Larrea (Ambato, Ecuador/Atenas High School) and Lachlan Rowing (Canberra, Australia/Finigan School of Distance Education) and No. 2 doubles with Javier Romero (Tlalnepantla, Mexico/ETAC) and Paul Claussen (Balingen, Germany/Gymnasium Balingen) both fell 6-1.
In singles, Patricio Larrea (Ambato, Ecuador/Atenas High School) was the sole Mustang to get a win. At the two spot, Larrea lost the first game 6-0, but won the next two games 7-5 and 10-5.
Rowing, playing No. 3 singles, had a strong outing as well but wasn't enough to secure a point, losing 6-4, 6-1.
Javier Romero (Tlalnepantla, Mexico/ETAC) and Paul Claussen (Balingen, Germany/Gymnasium Balingen) were edged out 6-2, 6-2. Brendan Lock (Cheyenne, Wyoming/Cheyenne South HS) lost in consecutive sets 6-1, 6-1, and Yu Jhe Du (New Taipei City/Taiwan/Taipei Municipal Jianguo High School) had a tough outing, falling 6-1, 6-0.
MATCH TWO:
In doubles, Larrea and Rowing made the Aggies sweat before being edged out 6-3. NMSU won the doubles point after defeating Romero and Claussen, 6-1.
In singles, Romero was downed in consecutive sets 6-3, 6-3. Lock fought hard as he fell 6-4, 6-0. Claussen also had his opponent working hard before falling, 6-3, 6-2.
Three Mustangs did not finish as NMSU clinched the match. Larrea split the match winning the first game 6-3, but then lost the next one 6-2, and was 1-0 before it was called off. Rowing won the first game 7-5 and was tied 2-2 in the second game. Du was just edged out 7-6, and was down 1-0 when the match was called off.
The Mustangs head to Phoenix, AZ, playing three matches in two days. On Thursday (2/16), they will play at Arizona Christian and on Friday (2/17), the men will play Colorado Mesa and Ottawa (AZ).
This game recap is presented by First American Bank. First American Bank is a proud supporter of WNMU Athletics!
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Western New Mexico University is a member of the NCAA Division II, and the Lone Star Conference (LSC). For additional information regarding Mustang Athletics, visit www.wnmumustangs.com; visit wnmu.edu for more information about Western New Mexico University. Follow the Mustangs on social media: @WNMUathletics (Twitter, TikTok & Instagram).
