LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The Lobo women’s tennis team’s match against Loyola Marymount was delayed four hours due to rainy conditions in Las Vegas, Nev., but UNM persevered and beat the Lions by a solid 4-1 margin to improve its record to 5-2 on the season. The win advanced the No. 57 Lobos through to the second round of the UNLV Invite where they will face No. 44 Oklahoma at 10 a.m. (P.S.T.) today at the Fertitta Tennis Complex on the campus of UNLV.
The Lobos earned the key doubles point after Tjasa Suvak and Maja Kovacek beat the LMU doubles team of Edit Pakay and Diana Vinis, 8-3. At the No. 3 doubles spot, Maria Ruiz-Fabrega and Rachel Hatley downed Patrycia Hubl and Erin Sanchez, 8-4. Tiffany Robertson and Michelle Heidbrink did not finish at the No. 2 doubles spot.
Two singles players, Tjasa Suvak (No. 1) and Rachel Hatley (No. 5), did not complete their matches, as three of the four remaining Lobo singles players were victorious over the Lions at their respective positions. Maja Kovacek played at UNM’s No. 2 position for the first time this year and got a big win over Loyola Marymount’s Georgie Dinham. The Lobo freshman beat her opponent 6-1, 6-4 to capture the first of three singles wins for UNM. Tiffany Robertson downed Jennifer Baker in two sets, 6-3, 6-3 at the No. 4 spot, while Maria Ruiz-Fabrega clinched another two set win, 6-0, 6-0, playing as the No. 6 seed.
Michelle Heidbrink, despite a solid effort, was defeated by Diana Vinis at the No. 3 spot, 6-4, 6-2.
Check back to golobos.com this evening for full match results and recap.