SAN DIEGO, Calif. The No. 48 UNM womens tennis team is one step closer to clinching the 2003 MWC womens tennis title after sweeping the Air Force Academy Falcons 4-0 this afternoon at the Barnes Tennis Center on the campus of San Diego State University.
The newly-awarded all-conference pair of Sandy Lukowski and Maja Kovacek began the Lobo dominance with an 8-6 win at the No. 1 doubles spot over Laura Nigro and Gina Black. At No. 3, Rachel Hatley and Maria Ruiz-Fabrega downed Kelli OBryant and Jen Nigro, 8-2, to grab the doubles point. The pair of Michelle Heidbrink and Tiffany Robertson, who also garnered all-conference honors, did not finish its match against Heather Shelby and Kat Bushey, as the Falcon pair retired.
In singles competition the Lobos had decisive wins at the No. 3, 4 and 6 positions by Tjasa Suvak, Michelle Heidbrink and Rachel Hatley respectively. Matches at No. 1, 2 and 5 were not completed after the Falcons realized that New Mexico had already earned the four points necessary for the win.
With the victory, UNM (15-8, 5-2 MWC) advances to the semi-final match, which will pit the three-seeded squad against the No.2-seeded hosts, San Diego State. The Lobos will take to the Barnes Tennis Center courts at 2 p.m. (PDT) tomorrow. BYU and UNLV will play at 10 a.m. (PDT) in the other semi-final match.
(3) New Mexico 4, (6) Air Force 0
SINGLES
1. Laura Nigro (AFA) vs. Maja Kovacek (UNM) 7-6 (4), 1-2, Did Not Finish
2. Heather Shelby (AFA) vs. Sandy Lukowski (UNM) Did Not Finish
3. Tjasa Suvak (UNM) def. Kat Bushey (AFA) 6-0, 6-1
4. Michelle Heidbrink (UNM) def. Gina Black (AFA) 6-2, 6-3
5. Kelli OBryant (AFA) vs. Tiffany Robertson (UNM) 7-5, 2-2, Did Not Finish
6. Rachel Hatley (UNM) def. Katie Tomkie (AFA) 6-2, 6-2
DOUBLES
1. Kovacek/Lukowski (UNM) def. L. Nigro/Black (AFA), 8-6
2. Heidbrink/Robertson (UNM) vs. Shelby/Bushey (AFA), Did Not Finish
3. Hatley/Ruiz-Fabrega (UNM) def. OBryant/J. Nigro (AFA), 8-2