SAN DIEGO - The Western New Mexico Mustangs edged the Point Loma men's tennis team 5-4 on Tuesday, Feb. 26.

The loss drops the Sea Lions to 3-5 on the season, while the Mustangs improved to 4-7.

PLNU earned wins at No. 2 through No. 4 singles to enter doubles tied at 3-3. Things were not looking good for PLNU at No. 2 singles when Mickey Zablan dropped the first set 6-1 and fell behind 5-1 in the second set, but the junior from Irvine would not go down that easily. He took six straight games in the second set to win the set 7-5 and tie the match at one set apiece. Zablan then carried that momentum into the third set where he dominated Matthew Covizzi 6-1 to win the set. Bram Kevelaerts and Daniel Milliken picked up their points for PLNU in straight sets.

In doubles, Point Loma opened with the Kevelaerts brothers winning at No. 2 by the score of 8-5. Both other doubles would go to the Mustangs by the score of 9-7.

"I am very excited by the way we played today," said PLNU head coach Rich Hills. "We are young but continuing to get better."

PLNU will be back in action on Saturday, Mar. 2 when they host Villanova at 4:00 p.m.

Western New Mexico 5, Point Loma 4
Singles
#1: Rodrigo Almeida (WNM) def. Jakob Kevelaerts (PLNU) 6-1, 0-6, 7-5
#2: Michael Zablan (PLNU) def. Matthew Covizzi (WNM) 1-6, 7-5, 6-1
#3: Bram Kevelaerts (PLNU) def. Juan Pablo Fuentes (WNM) 6-1, 6-2
#4: Daniel Milliken (PLNU) def. Francisco Damasio (WNM) 6-4, 6-0
#5: Roy Ulibarri (WNM) def. Kaptan Kaster (PLNU) 5-7, 6-2, 7-5
#6: Jorge Carretero (WNM) def. Kevin McKelligan (PLNU) 7-5, 6-2

Doubles
#1: Almeida/Fuentes (WNM) def. Brooks Baldinger/Michael Zablan (PLNU) 9-7
#2: Bram Kevelaerts/Jakob Kevelaerts (PLNU) def. Nunez/Damasio (WNM) 8-5
#3: Covizzi/Carretero (WNM)def. Daniel Milliken/Kaptan Kaster (PLNU) 9-7