April 1, 2004
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UPCOMING: The No. 32 University of New Mexico women’s tennis team look for its fifth undefeated home record in the last eight years when they host MWC foes Wyoming Saturday, April 3 at 2 p.m. and Colorado State Sunday, April 4 at 1 p.m. Sunday is also Senior Day for Lobos Sandy Lukowski, Maria Ruiz-Fabrega and Tjasa Suvak who will be playing their last home match for UNM. All matches will be played at the Lobo Tennis Club and admission is free.
A LOOK AT THE COMPETITION: Wyoming and Colorado State went head to head for both teams first conference match of the season last Saturday in Fort Collins, Colo. The Rams posted a 5-2 win over the Cowgirls. Colorado State currently sits in second place in the MWC (1-0) behind BYU who boast a 3-0 record in conference play while Wyoming is in seventh place at 0-1 in conference competition.
Last season the Lobos had no problem defeating Wyoming and Colorado State. UNM gained a 7-0 victory over Wyoming on Cowgirl territory and defeated the Rams 6-1 in Colorado.
Wyoming is currently 9-5 overall on the season with the majority of matches on the road while Colorado State travels to Albuquerque with a five game winning streak (three wins at home and two on the road) and a 9-5 overall record as well.
LOBOS RULE THE BUBBLE: The UNM women’s tennis squad who are 11-3 on the season are shooting for their fifth undefeated home record in the last eight years this weekend at the Lobo Tennis Club. The Lobos have won 17 straight at home with their last loss coming against Furman (6-1) on Feb. 26, 2002. The Lobos have won 21 of their last 23 home matches.
UNM has compiled an outstanding 63-7 home record over the last eight years, giving the team an impressive .900 winning percentage.
SENIOR DAY: Seniors Sandy Lukowski, Maria Ruiz-Fabrega and Tjasa Suvak will play their last UNM career home match this Sunday against Colorado State. Each Lobo senior has played pivotal roles throughout their time at UNM, earning several awards and national rankings along the way.
Sandy Lukowski (Calgary, Canada):* Currently ranked No. 18 in the nation in doubles with partner Maja Kovacek.* Won the I.T.A. Central Region Championships in doubles, Oct. 2003…earning a berth to the I.T.A. National Indoor Championships.* Currently ranked No. 1 in the Central Region in doubles with Kovacek.* Three-time MWC All-Conference selection (2001,2002,2003).* Earned a national ranking of No. 82 March 2003.* Overall Cummulative Records: Singles 56-55 (currently tied in second for Most Career singles wins at UNM). Doubles 70-38 (currently fifth for Most Career doubels wins at UNM).
Maria Ruiz-Fabrega (Albuquerque, N.M.):* Achieved a national doubles ranking March 2004 with partner Iva Gersic.* Currently ranked No. 12 in doubles in the Central Region with Gersic.* Currently boasts an incredible 25-3 doubles record (13-1 in spring play) this year.* Named I.T.A. Academic All-American in 2003.* Overall Cummulative Doubles Record: 71-21 (currently tied for fourth place in Most Career doubles wins).
Tjasa Suvak (Belca Slovenia):* Nationally ranked in singles Fall 2002* I.T.A. Academic All-American 2003* MWC Academic Scholar Medal Recipient 2002 and 2003* Most singles and doubles wins on the team with 40 in 2002* Overall Cummulative Records: Singles 78-53 (currently fifth for most singles career wins at UNM). Doubles 56-33 (currently tied for 11th place in Most career doubles wins at UNM).
UNM IN THE RANKINGS: The Lobos currently post a nationally ranking of No. 32 according to the recent I.T.A. polls. UNM carries the second highest national ranking in the MWC behind No. 17 BYU. UNM ended last season nationally ranked at No. 54.
Lobo players with national rankings are sophomore Maja Kovacek and senior Sandy Lukowski. Kovacek currently boasts a No. 69 national ranking in singles play and joins Lukowski at No. 18 nationally in doubles. The duo holds the highest doubles ranking in the MWC while Kovacek has the second highest singles ranking.
LAST TIME OUT: The women’s tennis squad spent spring break in paradise, playing three non-conference matches in Hawaii against Rainbow Wahine, Washington State and San Diego.
The Lobos captured its eighth and ninth consecutive wins after defeating Hawaii and Washington State 4-3, but the streak ended as San Diego defeated the Lobos 5-2 in the final match in Hawaii.
Leading UNM with the most wins was Michelle Heidbrink. The Lobo junior went 2-1 at No. 5 singles and 2-0 at No. 3 doubles with partner Tiffany Robertson.
The junior currently holds a strong overall singles record of 18-6, 10-2 in spring play and an overall doubles record of 19-6 with Robertson, 11-2 in spring competition.
AWARDS ON THE COURT: Sophomore Maja Kovacek (Pula, Croatia) was the last Lobo to receive the MWC Player of the Week honor (Feb. 26) after showing solid play against Oklahoma and Tulsa. The award was Kovacek’s second career honor and first of the season. Kovacek is the third Lobo to earn the MWC player of the Week honor this year.
Last season, the MWC awarded the Lobos with three Player of the Week awards which were given to Kovacek, Tiffany Robertson and Sandy Lukowski. As well, several Lobos received post-season accolades. Kovacek and Lukowski were both named to the 2003 all-MWC singles team. The two were named together on the all-MWC doubles team as well, along with fellow teammates Robertson and Michelle Heidbrink.
Most notably, Kovacek was named the I.T.A. Central Region Rookie of the Year, an honor that UNM had not enjoyed since 1997.
UNM IN THE MWC: The Lobos can expect stiff competition going into the MWC regulars as several conference teams are nationally ranked according to the I.T.A. national rankings.
Reigning MWC title holders No. 71 San Diego State and second-place finisher No. 17 BYU may offer the biggest challenge to the Lobos this year. In addition, No. 43 UNLV will be gunning for a top spot in the MWC.
During the regular season, the Lobos will also do battle with Air Force and Utah. The 2004 MWC women’s tennis championships are set to take place in San Diego, Calif. April 29 – May 1. Last season the Lobos finished the MWC regulars in third place with a conference record of 5-2.