ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The powerful duo of Sandy Lukowski and Maja Kovacek began UNMs match against Air Force on a winning note this afternoon at the Lobo Tennis Club, beating the pair of Laura Nigro and Gina Black, 8-3. Tiffany Robertson and Michelle Heidbrink would nail down the Lobo doubles point with a resounding 8-2 victory over Jen Nigro and Kelli OBryant at the No. 3 position to set up New Mexico up for success in singles.
Maja Kovacek regained her winning fashion at No. 2 as she beat Falcon senior Heather Shelby in three sets, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1. Junior Tjasa Suvak improved her confidence with a crucial win at the No. 3 spot against Kat Bushey. Suvak won the first set 6-3, but then dropped the second, 4-6. In the final set, with her serve on target, she defeated Bushey 6-3 for the win.
UNM was perfect at the final three singles spots. Michelle Heidbrink had little trouble with Kelli OBryant at the fourth spot as she beat her Falcon opponent in two sets, 6-4, 7-5. In top form, sophomore Tiffany Robertson downed Gina Black 7-5, 6-3 at No. 5. The final Lobo in action was Maria Ruiz-Fabrega. The Albuquerque native had perhaps the most decisive win of the day, beating Katie Tomkie, 6-1, 6-0.
The only two Lobo losses came at the No. 2 doubles spot and at No. 1 singles. Maria Ruiz-Fabrega and Rachel Hatley evened their record to 2-2 at the second position after dropping an 8-4 match to AFAs Heather Shelby and Kat Bushey. Sandy Lukowski, despite a valiant effort, fell in the tiebreaker to Laura Nigro, 4-6, 6-0, 7-6 (7-4).
The win improves UNMs record to 9-8, 1-2 in the MWC. The Falcons drop to 10-9 overall and 0-3 in conference play. Tomorrow, New Mexico takes to the courts at 2 p.m against MWC opponent Utah (6-8, 1-0 MWC).
No. 49 New Mexico 6, AFA 1
SINGLES 1. Laura Nigro (AFA) def. Sandy Lukowski (UNM), 4-6, 6-0, 7-6 (7-4)2. Maja Kovacek (UNM) def. Heather Shelby (AFA), 2-6, 6-4, 6-13. Tjasa Suvak (UNM) def. Kat Bushey (AFA), 6-3, 4-6, 6-34. Michelle Heidbrink (UNM) def. Kelli OBryant (AFA), 6-4, 7-55. Tiffany Robertson (UNM) def. Gina Black (AFA), 7-5, 6-36. Maria Ruiz-Fabrega (UNM) def. Katie Tomkie (AFA), 6-1,6-0
DOUBLES 1. Lukowski/Kovacek (UNM) def. L.Nigro/Black(AFA), 8-32. Shelby/Bushey (AFA) def. Ruiz-Fabrega/Hatley (UNM), 8-43. Robertson/Heidbrink (UNM) def. J. Nigro/OBryant (AFA), 8-2