MOBILE, Ala. – The No. 53 University of New Mexico women’s tennis team fell, 4-2 today to the No. 20 South Alabama Jaguars at the Bruce David Lubel Memorial Tennis Courts in Mobile. For the first time in four matches the Lobos were defeated and have now dropped to 8-4 on the season. USA improves to 11-3.
Due to the threat of inclement weather, the doubles portion of the match was not played. New Mexico was victorious in singles at the No. 3 and 5 spots to earn two points.
Playing for the first time at No. 3, 108th-ranked Tjasa Suvak made the most of her debut. She defeated Dominika Nemcovicova, 7-5, 7-5. Fifth-seeded Michelle Heidbrink rebounded after losing 6-3 in the first set with second and third set wins to secure the 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 win over Katarina Palenikova.
At No. 1, Maja Kovacek was defeated by #34 Viktoria Stoklasova, 6-3, 6-0. Marlieke Jager got the best of Sandy Lukowski at No. 2 with a pair of 6-2, 6-1 sets to get the victory. Jaguar fourth seed, Andrea Kurekova, managed to slip by Tiffany Robertson in the first set, 6-4, and continued to dominate in the second with a 6-1 win. At the final Lobo singles spot, Maria Ruiz-Fabrega failed to clinch a victory, falling 6-2, 7-5.
Tomorrow, New Mexico will take on the No. 23 Virginia Commonwealth Rams at 9 a.m. (E.S.T.) in Mobile, Ala.