Jan. 24, 2004
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.- The No. 52 Lobo women’s tennis team kicked off the new year with a 7-0 sweep of No. 74 Northern Arizona. Freshman Iva Gersic, who is ranked 82nd in the nation, gave a solid performance on the court with a two set victory (6-1,6-2) over Kristina Klokinis at the No. 1 spot.
UNM clinched the doubles point with three resounding victories. At the No. 1 position, top regional competitors senior Sandy Lukowski and sophomore Maja Kovacek had a landslide victory over the doubles pair of Kristina Klokinis and Ashley Dille, beating the duo 8-1. The pair of Iva Gersic and Maria Ruiz-Fabrega, who played at the No. 2 spot were also victorious, beating the NAU duo of Julie Schmandt and Susan McClelland, 8-3. Rounding out doubles competition at the third spot were Tiffany Robertson and Michelle Heidbrink who had an 8-0 win over Karen Kmiec and Ashley Hunt.
UNM continued its winning fashion at every singles spot. Kovacek earned a clear 6-0, 6-2 defeat over NAU’s Dille at the No. 2 position, while Lukowski was solid at No. 3, dominating Lumberjack senior Kmiec, 6-2, 6-2. Robertson, Ruiz-Fabrega and Tjasa Suvak finished out the singles play with three decisive wins. Robertson defeated Schmandt 6-4, 6-1 before Ruiz-Fabrega put NAU’s McClelland away in three sets, 6-3, 2-6, 6-3. Suvak showed her spring form, needing two quick sets to overcome Lindsay Villegas, 6-1, 6-0.
UNM improves to 1-0 while NAU falls to 0-1. The Lobos travel to Illinois Jan. 31 to face No. 14 Northwestern 12:00 p.m. CST.