San Diego, Calif. – The No. 48 UNM women’s tennis team fell to a technically and athletically complete 23rd-ranked San Diego State side today, 4-1, at the Barnes Tennis Center. Despite winning the doubles point, the Lobos fell in four of six singles matches and did not finish at the other two singles positions in the semifinal match against the second-seeded Aztecs.
“We really played our hearts out,” said head coach Kathy Kolankiewicz. “San Diego State was just the better team today and they proved it at all of the singles spots. The difference between a 23rd-ranked team and one that’s ranked 48th was made clear.”
Michelle Heidbrink and Tiffany Robertson defeated the Aztec doubles duo of Lindsey Hedberg and Katja Karrento, 8-6. The doubles point was sealed after Rachel Hatley and Maria Ruiz-Fabrega came back from a 4-0 deficit to beat Patricia Graf and Katalina Romero, 8-6. Sandy Lukowski and Maja Kovacek fell to top-seeded Silvia Tornier and Indra Erichsen, 8-1.
At the No. 1 singles spot, 85th-ranked Silvia Tornier defeated UNM freshman sensation Maja Kovacek, 6-2, 6-2. No. 113 Sandy Lukowski tried her luck against No. 95 Lindsey Hedberg but couldn’t get any momentum going. She eventually lost, 6-2, 6-0.
Tjasa Suvak and Rachel Hatley were both defeated in two sets at the No. 3 and 6 spots, 6-4, 6-1 and 7-5, 6-2, repectively.
Neither Michelle Heidbrink nor Tiffany Robertson completed their matches at the fourth and fifth spots.
The Lobos end their 2003 season with a 15-9 record as well as a third-place conference finish with a 5-2 mark, their best MWC finish ever.
No. 23 San Diego State 4, UNM 1
SINGLES1. Silvia Tornier (85) def. Maja Kovacek, 6-2, 6-22. Lindsey Hedberg (95) def. Sandy Lukowski, 6-2, 6-03. Katalina Romero def. Tjasa Suvak, 6-4, 6-14. Michelle Heidbrink vs. Katja Karrento, 7-5, 2-4 (Did not finish)5. Tiffany Robertson vs. Patricia Graf, 2-6, 6-2, 3-2 (Did not finish)6. Indra Erichsen def. Rachel Hatley, 7-5, 6-2
DOUBLES1. Erichsen/Tornier def. Kovacek/Lukowski, 8-12. Heidbrink/Robertson def. Hedberg/Karrento, 8063. Ruiz-Fabrega/Hatley def. Graf/Romero, 8-6A