Tulsa, Okla – The University of New Mexico women’s tennis team had numerous successes on the third day of competition at the Omni Hotels/Central Region Championships. Tjasa Suvak (Belca, Slovenia) had the best singles showing for the Lobos, getting as far as the round of 16. The junior defeated Katherine Bushey of Air Force, 6-3, 6-1 in the round of 32, yesterday. The win advanced her to the round of 16, but she was unable to get past Jamina Hayward (Boise State)and lost in three sets, 3-6, 6-2, 6-1.
Lobo Tiffany Robertson, as a result of winning all of her qualifying matches, was a part of the main draw singles round of 32. Despite a hard-fought game, the sophomore was defeated 6-1, 6-2 by BYU’s Dominique Reynolds.
UNM’s doubles teams were dominant yet again. The pair of Michelle Heidbrink and Robertson beat McIver/Rosenberg of Kansas State, 8-2. The two advanced to the round of 16 with the win, but were eventually defeated by Juric/Seiveikova of Missouri, 8-1.
Suvak and Maja Kovacek defeated Bushey/Negro of Air Force soundly in the round of 32 doubles play, 8-2. They too advanced to the round of 16, but fell 8-2 to Oklahoma’s Perianu and Saluri.
Doubles partners Rachel Hatley and Maria Ruiz-Fabrega battled for two big Lobo wins yesterday. They competed in the doubles round of 32 and defeated MWC opponents Domingo/Lemperle of Colorado, 8-5. The pair then advanced to the round of 16 and were again victorious, beating Lemus and Zeilinski (Saint Louis) in a close 8-6 match. The two will compete in semi-final doubles action today.
Two Lobos also competed in backdraw matches yesterday. Heidbrink took on Bethany Griffin of Oklahoma and beat her in two solid sets, 6-2, 6-1. In the next round, Heidbrink played Nebraska’s Leslie Harvey but was beat in two sets, 6-2, 6-2.
After a bye in the first round of the backdraw, Kovacek played Stephanie Ginsberg of Denver to a win in the round of 16, 6-2, 6-2. With the victory Kovacek advances to the semi-finals of the backdraw which will be played today.
Check back later for more results.
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