May 26, 2004
ATHENS, Ga.– The No. 8 University of New Mexico doubles team of sophomore Maja Kovacek and senior Sandy Lukowski can now call themselves UNM’s first female doubles All-American team after capturing a definitive 6-1, 6-4 win over Texas A&M’s duo of Jessica Roland and Helga Vieira in the round of 16 this afternoon at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex in Athens, Ga. The victory not only earned the pair the honorable title, but also pushed them into tomorrow’s NCAA quarterfinals.
In order to receive the All-American title, a doubles team has to either be a top eight seed at the NCAA Doubles Championships, reach the quarterfinals of the NCAA doubles tournament or finish in the top 10 of the final Omni Hotels Collegiate Tennis Rankings. With the quarterfinals one match away, Kovacek and Lukowski powered their way through today’s match against the Texas A&M pair and claimed their long awaited All-American honor.
Kovacek and Lukowski return to the courts in Athens, Ga. tomorrow for the NCAA quarterfinals where they will meet the No. 8 seeded and 10th nationally-ranked duo of Claire Carter and Dea Sumantri of the University of Washington. For specific match time, check www.georgiadogs.com later in the evening.