PHOENIX, A.Z. – Playing two matches in sunny Phoenix, AZ, the Mustangs went on to split the day. WNMU defeated Colorado Mesa 4-3 and lost to Ottawa (AZ) 4-3.

"We had a great win this morning," said Head Coach Jesus Baltazar. "They carried the energy to the second match and some great opportunities." 

MATCH ONE vs CMU MAVERICKS:

The Mustangs had a difficult time against the Mavericks, losing the doubles point. No. 1 doubles duo, Yu Jhe Du (New Taipei City/Taiwan/Taipei Municipal Jianguo High School) and Brendan Lock (Cheyenne, Wyoming/Cheyenne South HS) won 6-3. At No. 2 doubles, Javier Romero (Tlalnepantla, Mexico/ETAC) and Lorenzo Orellano Buratti (Acassuso, Buenos Aires, Argentina/Anibal Mensi) fell short, 6-3. Playing at the No. 3 spot, Lachlan Rowing (Canberra, Australia/Finigan School of Distance Education) and Paul Claussen (Balingen, Germany/Gymnasium Balingen) were just edged out, 6-4.

At No. 4 singles, Lock got things going for the Mustangs, winning 6-0, 6-1. Claussen played in the No. 5 position and won 6-3, 6-3. No. 1 singles player, Rowing, had a stellar match winning  6-3, 7-5. Clinching the match was Du and it was a close one… Du won 6-1, 4-6, 6-3.

Playing in the No. 6 position, Orellano Buratti fell 6-0, 6-1. At No. 2, Romero lost in consecutive games 6-3, 6-3.

MATCH TWO vs OUAZ SPIRIT:

"We just couldn't execute and that is something we will work on this week while we prepare for our next match," said Baltazar.

Getting the sole win in doubles, No. 2 duos with Rowing and Claussen won, 6-3. The Mustangs had a difficult time against the Mavericks, losing the doubles point. No. 1 doubles with Du and Lock lost 7-6 (7-4). At No. 3 doubles, Romero and Orellano Buratti were edged out, 6-4. 

At No. 5 singles, Claussen got the Mustangs a point, winning 6-2, 6-3. Lock played in the No. 4 position and won 6-4, 6-3. Rowing stayed at the No. 1 position and defeated his opponent 7-5, 7-5. 

Du had a solid outing but fell short 6-1, 4-6, 4-6. Romero couldn't find his groove falling 6-2, 6-3. Orellano Buratti lost his match as well.

The Mustangs will play at home next Saturday (2/25), playing conference foe and former Head Coach Alex Hunt and the UTPB Falcons at 1:30pm MST.

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).