Tulsa, Okla. – Maja Kovacek (Pula, Croatia) won a superbly played backdraw championship match against Courtney Steinbock of Kansas today at the Central Region Championships. The freshman defeated Steinbock, 6-3, 6-2 for the win.
Yesterday, Kovacek played Sheri Esrock of Utah in the quarterfinals. She solidly defeated Esrock in two sets, 6-2, 6-1, giving her the win she needed to advance. In semi-final action, Kovacek beat Haley McIver (Kansas State), 6-3, 6-1.
Two other Lobos also competed at the Central Region Championships yesterday. Rachel Hatley (Burleson, Texas) and Maria Ruiz-Fabrega (Albuquerque, N.M.) had advanced to the quarterfinals after beating two pairs in round of 32 and round of 16 play the day before. Despite success in all previous rounds, the Lobo duo dropped the match, 8-4, to Jamina Hayward and Erin Polowski of Boise State.
The Lobos will return to action Nov. 8-10 when they host New Mexico State, Houston and Boise State at the New Mexico Fall Invite.q