March 2, 2005
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THIS WEEK…
The No. 31 University of New Mexico women’s tennis team faces two central region competitors this weekend as it travels to Denver and Boulder, Colo. for dual matches against No. 63 University of Denver and No. 54 Colorado University. The Lobos take on the Denver Pioneers (7-2) on Saturday, March 5 at 6 p.m. and then travel to Boulder for a match against the CU Buffaloes (6-3) on Sunday, March 6 at 2 p.m.
The No. 5 doubles team of Maja Kovacek and Iva Gersic |
TEAM NATIONAL RANKINGS…
Not much movement occurred in this week’s ITA team national rankings for the Lobos as they dropped down only one spot to become the No. 31 team in the country.
BYU still checks in as the highest ranked team in the Mountain West Conference with a No. 24 ranking. UNLV made a huge leap, moving from No. 48 to No. 34 in the nation while San Diego State continued to hover around its usual No. 68 ranking.
New team rankings will be released on March 8.
LOBOS IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS…
Junior Maja Kovacek is ranked No. 35 in the nation as a singles player. She is currently 19-5 overall in singles, 7-3 in spring competition at the No. 1 spot.
In doubles rankings, Kovacek and sophomore Iva Gersic are ranked No. 5 in the nation. The pair is 21-5 overall in doubles, 8-2 in spring play at the No. 1 position.
Other MWC individuals ranked in the nation include UNLV’s No. 21 singles player Elena Gantcheva and the No. 44 BYU doubles team of Lauren Jones and Dolly Chang.
New singles and doubles rankings come out March 8.
THIS WEEK’S SCOUTING REPORT…
DENVER PIONEERS (7-2, 0-0 SUN BELT)
Location: Denver, Colo.
Conference: Sun Belt
Head Coach: Dana Young (Minnesota, `97)
Record at Denver: 52-31 (4 years)
2004 Record: 20-2
2004 Conference Record: 5-0/1st
2004 Central Region Finish: 4th
UNM vs Denver: 9-0
Last Time: UNM Won 4-3 at Home (2/21/03)
Current National Ranking: No. 63
Current Nationally-Ranked Players: Doubles: No. 24 Yanick Dullens/Suzana Maksovic
Fall 2004 Central Region Rankings: Singles: No. 6 Yanick Dullens, No. 15 Suzana Maksovic, No. 18 Jenny Trettin and No. 28 Barbara Kourim Doubles: No. 2 Dullens/Maksovic and No. 9 Trettin/Kourim
No. 1 Singles Player: Yanick Dullens
No. 1 Doubles Team: Dullens/Maksovic
Web Site: www.DenverPioneers.com
COLORADO BUFFALOES (6-3, 1-1 BIG 12)
Location: Boulder, Colo.
Conference: Big 12
Head Coach: Nicole Kenneally (Oklahoma 1995, 1999)
Record at Colorado: 53-56 (5 years)
2004 Record: 12-10
2004 Conference Record: 6-5/5th
2004 Central Region Finish: 8th
UNM vs. Colorado: 10-5
Last Time: UNM won 5-2 at Home (3/7/04)
Current National Ranking: No. 54
Current Nationally-Ranked Players: Doubles: No. 49 Kendra Strandemo/Jessica Vanderdys
Fall 2004 Central Region Rankings: Singles: No. 5 Lynzee Keever, No. 22 Veera Nurmi, No. 26 Jessica Vanderdys and No. 29 Kendra Strandemo Doubles: No. 6 Strandemo/Vanderdys
No. 1 Singles Player: Lynzee Kever
No. 1 Doubles Team: Strandemo/Vanderdys
Web Site: www.CUBuffs.com
LAST WEEK: LOBOS TAKE FOURTH AT UNLV INVITE…
LAS VEGAS, NEV.- After winning one of three highly competitive matches, the University of New Mexico women’s tennis team walked away with fourth place honors out of the eight teams that participated at the Lady Rebel Classic in Las Vegas, Nev.
In the first round match, the Lobos faced Texas Tech and won 5-2 by earning the doubles point and winning four of six singles matches.
The second round had New Mexico face No. 15 Tulane. At last season’s tournament, Tulane placed second after falling to Fresno State in the championship round. With drive to make it to the championship match for the second consecutive year, Tulane gave the Lobos a tough battle. UNM earned the doubles point, but could not keep its head above water in the singles portion allowing Tulane to win at four singles spots for the 4-3 victory.
The third-place match against No. 21 Fresno State looked very similar to New Mexico’s match against Tulane. The Lobos earned the doubles point once again, but did not have the winning edge in singles. Fresno State came in third place after edging the Lobos 4-3.
Tulane was the champion of the invite as it defeated host UNLV in the final round.
MWC PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINEE…
Sophomore Iva Gersic has been nominated for this week’s Mountain West Conference Player of the Week award. She won all three of her singles matches at the UNLV Invite, including a convincing 6-4, 6-2 win over No. 55 Jenny Kuhn of No. 15 Tulane at No. 2 singles. Gersic currently holds an overall singles record of 18-4, 7-2 in spring play. In doubles, she and teammate Maja Kovacek won two of three doubles matches at the No. 1 spot. The 5th-nationally ranked duo currently holds a 21-5 overall record, 8-2 for the spring.
DOUBLES POINT BREAKTHROUGH…
The Lobos have won the doubles point in their last five matches. Before the breakthrough, UNM was struggling in the beginning of the season in the doubles department, earning the point only one time out of its first five matches. For New Mexico’s first weekend at home, changes were made to the doubles lineup that proved to be very helpful because the Lobos have been winning the doubles point ever since. Probable doubles lineup for most of the season:
1. #5 Maja Kovacek/Iva Gersic
2. Michelle Heidbrink/Tiffany Robertson
3. Nora Quintal/Lucy Scott
Head coach Kathy Kolankiewicz with senior Michelle Heidbrink |
COACH K’S RACE TO 300…
New Mexico head coach Kathy Kolankiewicz is on the hunt for her 300th win this season. With five wins tucked away for New Mexico so far, Kolankiewicz (295-189) only needs five more to reach her goal.
UNM RECORD BOOK…
Expect to see senior Michelle Heidbrink and junior Maja Kovacek move up in the UNM record book this season. Heidbrink is currently tied for ninth place with 72 career singles wins and is in seventh place with 74 career doubles wins. In combined wins, she is tied for sixth place with a 146.
Kovacek is certainly on pace to place high in the UNM record book for most career doubles wins. As a junior, she is already in sixth place with 75 doubles wins. In singles, she is tied in 13th place with 64 career singles wins and for wins combined she sits in 10th place with 139.
Other Lobo players making their way into the record book is senior Tiffany Robertson and sophomore Iva Gersic. Robertson is in 11th place with 65 doubles wins and is tied in 14th place with a combined singles and doubles win record of 122. Gersic currently holds the highest career winning percentage in the program as she boasts a 100-21 record .826 winning percentage. She is also making her way on the other lists with 46 career singles wins, 54 doubles wins and a combined win record of 100.
NOT AN EASY RIDE…
Upon entering this weekend of road matches against two more ranked opponents, New Mexico has already faced seven nationally-ranked teams, including No. 11 Washington, No. 5 Northwestern, No. 48 Wisconsin, No. 75 Louisville, No. 24 Oklahoma, No. 15 Tulane and No. 21 Fresno State. UNM is currently 2-5 against ranked teams.
Senior Michelle Heidbrink is well on her way to place high in the UNM record book. |
NEW MEXICO IN THE CENTRAL REGION…
Last season, New Mexico as a team finished third in the central region behind BYU and Oklahoma. Maja Kovacek finished the 2004 spring season No. 4 in the region as a singles player and Iva Gersic was ranked No. 7. The All-American doubles team of Kovacek and Sandy Lukowski finished the season at No. 1 in the central region.
For the recent 2004 Fall Central Regional rankings, the Lobos had two singles players and two doubles teams featured. Maja Kovacek was ranked No. 2 as a singles player in the region while Iva Gersic was placed at No. 4 . Together, Kovacek and Gersic ranked as the No. 1 doubles team in the region. Michelle Heidbrink and Lucy Scott also ranked as a doubles team. They were ranked No. 15.