May 11, 2004
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UPCOMING
The No. 31 University of New Mexico women’s tennis team return to the NCAA Championship for the first time since 2000 this weekend as they head for Seattle, Wash. for the first and second rounds of the NCAA tournament. The Lobos (20-4) will face No. 32 Oregon (16-8) in the first round on Saturday, May 15 at the Quillian Stadium on the University of Washington campus. Match time is set for 11 a.m. (MDT).
On the other side of the bracket, host University of Washington will face Fairfield on Saturday at 3 p.m. (MDT). The second round match is scheduled for Sunday, May 16 at 1 p.m. (MDT).
NEW MEXICO AT THE NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
The Lobos are making their sixth trip overall to the NCAA Regionals, including five straight appearnces from 1996-2000. UNM is 1-5 in its six appearances at the tournament.
New Mexico Women’s Tennis in NCAA Regional Competition
May 3, 1996 Oklahoma State 5, UNM 1 Lawrence, Kan.
May 9, 1997 BYU 5, UNM 3 Lawrence, Kan.May 14, 1998 UNM 5, Kansas State 3 Provo, Utah
May 15, 1998 Kansas 4, UNM 3 Provo, Utah
May 15, 1999 Kansas 5, UNM 3 Albuquerque, N.M.
May 13, 2000 Arizona 5, UNM 2 Los Angeles, Calif.
LOOKING AT THE NCAA REGIONAL OPPONENTS
The Oregon Ducks enter the NCAA Regionals for the fifth time in the last eight years. Their last appearance was in 2001-02 when the Ducks defeated UNLV, 4-3, but were defeated in the second round by USC, 4-0.
The last time UNM and Oregon met was on February 8, 1998 at Albuquerque. The Lobos defeated the Ducks 5-3.
The No. 10 University of Washington Huskies enter the NCAA Regionals for the eighth-straigt year, second-straight year as host. Washington (18-5) holds a 3-2 series record against New Mexico. The last meeting between the Lobos and the Huskies was on February 12, 1999. Washington defeated New Mexico 8-1 at Seattle.
The Fairfield Stags are making their first NCAA appearance after receiving an automatic bid for winning the Metro Atlantic Athleteic Conference. New Mexico has never faced Fairfield who posts a 19-2 overall record this season.
IN THE RECORD BOOKS
After a successful 2004 season, the Lobos post several players in the UNM record books.
Most Career Wins * Singles
5. Senior Tjasa Suvak with 87 singles wins
11. Senior Sandy Lukowski with 66 singles wins
13. Junior Michelle Heidbrink with 63 singles wins
Most Career Wins * Doubles
4. Senior Maria Ruiz-Fabrega with 79 doubles wins
5. Senior Sandy Lukowski with 78 doubles wins
10. (Tied) Junior Michelle Heidbrink
with 61 doubles wins
12. (Tied) Junior Tiffany Robertson with 60 doubles wins
Most Single Season Wins * SinglesFreshman Iva Gersic and senior Tjasa Suvak are currently tied in seventh place with 27 singles wins.
Most Single Season Wins * DoublesRuiz-Fabrega and Gersic are currently tied for first place with 33 season wins while Kovacek and Lukowski follow behind with 30 wins. Rounding out the top three are Heidbrink and Robertson with 29 single season doubles wins.
Most Combined Career Wins * Singles & Doubles6. Senior Sandy Lukowski with 144 combined wins7. Senior Tjasa Suvak with 142 combined wins12. Junior Michelle Heidbrink with 124 combined wins14.(Tied) Senior Maria Ruiz-Fabrega with 118 combined wins
MWC TOURNAMENT RECAP
The Lobo squad had plenty to be proud of as they walked away from the 2004 Mountain West Conference Championship. UNM entered the tournament as top-seed and made it to the final match for the first time in the four years of the conference.
In the first match of the championship, New Mexico faced Air Force and swept the Falcons 4-0. The Lobos then went on to face host San Diego State in the semifinals where they defeated the Aztecs 4-0.
In the championship match, the Lobos went head to head with the BYU Cougars. New Mexico was able to capture the doubles point right off the bat, but the singles matches proved to be more of a back and forth battle between the conference rivals. BYU eventually pulled out a close 4-3 victory over UNM.
AWARDS ON THE COURT
The MWC thoroughly recognized New Mexico for its outstanding season as several Lobo players were awarded for their talent on the court.
Sophomore Maja Kovacek received her first career Player of the Year award. The Pula, Croatia native finished MWC play with a record of 5-1, all at the No. 1 position. Kovacek was the first Lobo to be awarded the high honor.
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All-Conference Teams |
Other MWC honors included three singles players and two doubles teams earning all-conference recognition. Kovacek, freshman Iva Gersic and junior Michelle Heidbrink were honored on the All-MWC singles team while the duos of Kovacek and senior Sandy Lukowski and Gersic and senior Maria Ruiz-Fabrega earned All-MWC doubles team honors respectively.
Head coach Kathy Kolankiewicz was also given her first MWC Coach of the Year award. The honor was voted on by all the coaches in the conference.
“I think the award shows that the other coaches recognize how great UNM did this season,” said Kolankiewicz.
Earlier in the season, Kolankiewicz was named the 2003 United States Professional Tennis Association Southwest
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2004 MWC Coach of the Year, Kathy Kolankiewicz |
Section College Coach of the Year for the first time in her career at UNM.
HEAD COACH Kathy Kolankiewicz
Dr. Kathy Kolankiewicz is in her 19th season as the head coach of the University of New Mexico women’s tennis program. Through her leadership, the program has experienced both consistency and success throughout the years. Kolankiewicz has guided the Lobos to appearances in the NCAA Championships six of the last nine seasons. She has won 62 percent of her matches, posting a 290-183 career record. Between 1996 and 2004, Kolankiewicz took the women’s tennis team to the Western Athletic Conference and Mountain West finals or semifinals every year. During that time the Lobos received their highest ever national ranking, reaching No. 21 both in 1996 and 1999.
Kolankiewicz earned her B.S. in Health, Physical Education and Recreation from UT-Chattanooga in 1981 and received her doctorate in sports administration in 1996 from the University of New Mexico. She currently serves as the Director of the Lobo Tennis Club, home of Lobo women’s tennis.