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The New Mexico State women's tennis team wrapped up regular season play over the weekend and bid farewell to two senior standouts.
Paulina Zuniga and Stephanie Eusebe have combined for 185 wins in both singles and doubles matches and played their last regular season matches as Aggies. Zuniga defeated University of Idaho's Yvette Ly 6-2, 6-3 and Eusebe fell to Boise State's Vivien Silfany 6-3, 7-5 on Saturday.
Zuniga, a native of Monterrey, Mexico, said she accomplished everything she wanted to at NMSU.
"I enjoyed playing tennis here," Zuniga said. "I got to travel to many places, made good friends and did well in school, so I am very satisfied with everything that happened in the last four years."
Zuniga has accumulated 117 wins in her four seasons wearing crimson and white and head tennis coach Don Ball said she will be missed.
"Paulina is unique in a lot of ways," Ball said. "She's a very outgoing, vivacious young lady. She's very emotional, and probably one of the best teammates any of these young ladies have. You'll never hear her say a discouraging thing about anyone. She gives 100 percent on the court. To have her for four years is awesome."
Zuniga is coming back to NMSU in the fall to continue her education.
"I'm coming back to get my master's degree in industrial engineering," Zuniga said. "I definitely want to be involved with the tennis program next year. I will be coming to every match and be supporting the girls in every way possible. I really feel like this is a big part of who I am."
Eusebe, a native of Champs sur Marne, France, has been with the Aggies for two years and said she is going to miss the camaraderie between her teammates.
Like Zuniga, Eusebe plans on continuing her education.
"I'm going to keep studying in France," Eusebe said. "My major in America is independent studies, but in France I used to study Management."
Ball said Eusebe's positive attitude is something the team has fed off of all season.
"Stephanie is unbelievable," Ball said. "She comes to practice every day with a smile. I've never seen her not have a smile. She is the ultimate competitor and she will fight until she drops on the court."
In two years with the Aggies, Eusebe racked up 68 wins and was named second team All-WAC last year.
"[Zuniga and Eusebe] are from two different countries, but they have the same energy," Ball said. "They have made this a team of positive energy."
As a team, the Aggies went into their last regular season match against Hawaii with a 10-11 overall record and a 4-3 mark in the WAC.
"I would say we underachieved," Ball said. "Talent wise, this is one of the best teams we've had in years."
Part of that underachieving was due to injuries, Ball said.
"Injuries caught up to us in late February and March," Ball said. "It would have been great to have everybody at 100 percent, but there are years like that."
Going into the WAC Tournament (April 23-26 in Hawaii), Ball said the best way to prepare is by playing matches.
"You can't simulate game situations in practice," Ball said. "But the three matches in two days before heading to Hawaii for the WAC Championships is a little more than what I would have preferred."
Ball said fatigue may be a factor in the WAC Championships, but remains confident in the team.
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