ksparkhu@mavs.coloradomesa.edu

CMU’s men’s and women’s tennis teams hosted the 2013 RMAC Championship duel this weekend at the Elliot Tennis Center. Both teams advanced to the RMAC finals Sunday afternoon but fell short to Western New Mexico University in the championships.

“I couldn’t be more proud of either team,” coach Dan MacDonald said. “The men’s came in preseason picked to finish about fourth or fifth and finished second and contended for an RMAC title.”

The women defeated No. 3 seed Colorado Christian in the first round 5-1. The wins from doubles came from the second and third by scores of 8-2 and 8-0. In singles play, CMU’s Shannen McNamara, Kristyn Wykert and Nicole Lessley won at two, three and six singles respectively, which advanced the Mavs to the final round.

After the No. 2 seeded men’s first round bye, the Mavs took on Montana State University-Billings with a chance to play in the RMAC championship on the line. The Mavs doubles took the lead early, winning two of three (8-2, 8-3) to give the Mavericks the edge heading into singles play.

The singles were carried by freshmen Spencer Weinberg (6-2, 6-2), who received Freshman of the Year honors prior to entering the tournament, and Andres Garcia-Rojas (6-0, 6-2). Jordan Lyden finished 6-4, 7-5, to get the fifth and match-clinching win for the Mavericks.

Sunday’s championship round started off with women’s doubles, and Western New Mexico made quick work of the Mavericks, winning 2-1. The lone win came from Wykert and Skyler Nelson. The women tried to rally in singles, but after dropping the first two matches, the win and the RMAC title went to Western New Mexico by a score of 5-2.

The men’s team started off the day slow, dropping three of three in doubles play. Each match was closely contested in the singles matches, but the Mavs didn’t have the endurance to hang with the Mustangs and lost the duel 5-0.

The Mavericks entered this season picked around the bottom of the RMAC Pre-season polls yet contended for the RMAC title. Head coach Dan MacDonald took home the RMAC coach of the year award.

“We achieved a number of honors both individually and as a team,” MacDonald said. “All starters for the men got either first, second or third team honors.”

For the women, the Mavericks placed seven players on the RMAC All-Conference team. McNamara and Kaylee Davis earned First Team All-RMAC singles honors with McNamara as one of three unanimous selections.

“We have a ton of young talent on both teams and are only losing two seniors from each,” MacDonald said. “The future is bright, to say the least.”

The men’s team has a chance at receiving an at-large bid to the national tournament, which they will find out on Wednesday.