Feb. 26, 2005
Las Vegas, Nev.- Despite clinching the doubles point after a thrilling battle at No. 1 doubles and winning at two singles positions, the No. 30 University of New Mexico women’s tennis team fell in a close 4-3 match to No. 15 Tulane in the second round of the UNLV Invite today at the Fertitta Tennis Complex in Las Vegas, Nev. The Lobos (5-4) go into tomorrow’s third place match against No. 21 Fresno State while Tulane (7-4) makes its second straight UNLV Invite championship appearance as it faces host UNLV in the final match.
The Lobos continued their winning ways in the doubles portion, capturing wins at the No. 1 and 2 spots for the one doubles point. The No. 5 New Mexico tandem of Maja Kovacek and Iva Gersic muscled their way to a 9-7 victory over Tulane’s sister pair of Maria Ivanov and Dayra Ivanov. The Lobo duo had to make up some ground in order to win the match at the No. 1 spot as they were down 7-4 before making their fantastic run. At the No. 2 position, Lobo seniors Michelle Heidbrink and Tiffany Robertson found their rhythm against Jenny Kuhn and Dorottya Magas and defeated the duo 8-4.
With wins secured at the No. 1 and 2 singles positions by Kovacek and Gersic, the Lobos were close to pulling off an upset, but Tulane managed to push through with good efforts at the last four singles matches and ended up the eventual winner.
New Mexico is back on the courts tomorrow at 10 a.m. (MST) to face No. 21 Fresno State for third place honors.
No. 15 Tulane 4, No. 30 New Mexico 3
DOUBLES
1. #5 Kovacek/Gersic (UNM) def. Ivanov/Ivanov (TU) 9-7
2. Heidbrink/Robertson (UNM) def. Kuhn/Magas (TU) 8-4
3. Kockott/Saaibi (TU) def. Quintal/Scott (UNM) 8-5
SINGLES
1. #35 Maja Kovacek (UNM) def. Maria Ivanov (TU) 6-2, 6-3
2. Iva Gersic (UNM) def. #55 Jenny Kuhn (TU) 6-4, 6-2
3. #49 Nancy Kockott (TU) def. Michelle Heidbrink (UNM) 6-4, 6-2
4. Dayra Ivanov (TU) def. Nora Quintal (UNM) 6-1, 6-4
5. Dorottya Magas (TU) def. Lucy Scott (UNM) 7-5, 7-5
6. Ana Saaibi (TU) def. Tiffany Robertson (UNM) 6-2, 7-6 (4)