ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – For the second straight day, the No. 49 University of New Mexico womens tennis defeated a conference opponent by a 6-1 score at the Lobo Tennis Club. This time it was the visiting Utes of Utah who felt the Lobos wrath. UNM swept Utah at all three doubles positions this afternoon, and was victorious at all but one singles spot to earn the win and improve its record to 10-8, 2-2 in the MWC. The Utes fall to 6-9, 1-1 MWC.
The pair of Sandy Lukowski and Maja Kovacek is seemingly unstoppable at No. 1 doubles. The two allowed Allison Hansen and Ellen Svensson only two points in the 8-2 routing of the Ute duo. At No. 2, Rachel Hatley and Maria Ruiz-Fabrega got their second consecutive win over a MWC competitor with a 8-6 defeat of Rachel Alder and Cassie Kasteler. Lobos Tiffany Robertson and Michelle Heidbrink came back from the loss they suffered yesterday to Air Force to beat Maria Svensson and Hilary Doyle, 8-5.
New Mexico narrowly missed a sweep in singles. Maja Kovacek and Tjasa Suvak continued their reign at the No. 2 and 3 singles positions with convincing wins. Kovacek triumphed over Cassie Kasteler, despite losing 7-5 in the first set. The freshman beat her Ute opponent 6-3 and 10-8 in the final two sets to earn the win. Suvak gained another important win for the Lobos today when she rolled past Sheri Esrock with little difficulty, 6-1, 6-3.
The predictably strong bottom three in New Mexicos singles standings proved their importance yet again . At No. 4, Michelle Heidbrink defeated Maria Svensson in identical 6-1, 6-1 sets, while Tiffany Robertson played Utahs fifth-ranked Rachel Alder and beat her 6-2, 6-2. Junior standout Maria Ruiz-Fabrega displayed her consistency at the No. 6 spot with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Allison Hansen.
The Lobos close out their homestand tomorrow with a match against the No. 57 BYU Cougars at 1 p.m. at the Lobo Tennis Club. The Cougars will be primed to meet the Lobos after sweeping Air Force 7-0 earlier today at the Lobo Tennis Club.
No. 49 New Mexico 6, Utah 1
SINGLES 1. Ellen Svensson (Utah) def. Sandy Lukowski (UNM), 0-6, 6-3, 10-82. Maja Kovacek (UNM) def. Cassie Kasteler (Utah), 5-7, 6-3, 10-83. Tjasa Suvak (UNM) def. Sheri Esrock (Utah), 6-1, 6-34. Michelle Heidbrink (UNM) def. Maria Svensson (Utah), 6-1, 6-15. Tiffany Robertson (UNM) def. Rachel Alder (Utah), 6-2, 6-26. Maria Ruiz-Fabrega (UNM) def. Allison Hansen (Utah), 6-1, 6-2
DOUBLES 1. Lukowski/Kovacek (UNM) def. Hansen/Svensson (Utah), 8-22. Hatley/Maria Ruiz-Fabrega (UNM) def. Alder/Kasteler (Utah), 8-63. Robertson/Heidbrink (UNM) def. Svensson/Doyle (Utah), 8-5