April 28, 2005
SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The sixth-seeded Air Force Falcons could not have picked a better time to end the eight-match losing streak they were in against New Mexico which started in 1989. The Falcons upset the No. 61 and third-seeded Lobos with a 5-2 win in the opening round of the Mountain West Conference Championships to advance to the semifinals where they will face No. 2 seeded BYU and end the Lobos’ run for a second straight tournament title.
New Mexico started out winning the doubles point. Seniors David Kowalski and Ryan Stotland, ranked No. 14, netted a quick 8-3 over Shannon Buck and Tyler McClung at No. 1. Senior Derek Boland and junior Eric Conklin clinched the point with an 8-5 win at No. 3 over Justin Lau and Robby Alexander. Freshmen Max Jones and Kamil Pajkowski did not get to complete their match against Trevor Johnson and Chris Dong at No. 2
Air Force’s Shannon Buck, ranked No. 60, evened the score with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Jones at No. 1. Alexander and Dong then pushed the Falcons to a 3-1 lead with wins at No. 6 and 4, respectively. Alexander edged out Boland 7-5, 6-1 while Dong handed Pajkowski a tough 7-5, 6-3 loss.
Stotland kept the Lobos alive, rebounding from a first set loss to beat Tyler McClung at No. 2 4-6, 6-2, 6-2. But Johnson would also rally from a first set loss to down Kowalski 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 at No. 3. Lau recorded the final point with a 4-6, 6-2, 7-5 win over Conklin.
The Lobos end the season 9-8 and await the NCAA Singles and Doubles Championships selections announced May 4 on ESPNews at 2:30 p.m. Jones is eligible for the singles tournament while Kowalski and Stotland should make the doubles tournament.
AIR FORCE 5, NO. 61 NEW MEXICO 2
Doubles
1. No. 14 Stotland/Kowalski (NM) d. No. 31 Buck/McClung (AF) 8-3
2. Jones/Pajkowski (NM) vs. Johnson/Dong (AF) DNF
3. Boland/Conklin (NM) d. Lau/Alexander (AF) 8-5
Order of Finish: 1,3,2
Singles
1. No. 60 Shannon Buck (AF) d. Max Jones (NM) 6-1, 6-3
2. Ryan Stotland (NM) d. Tyler McClung (AF) 4-6, 6-2, 6-2
3. Trevor Johnson (AF) d. No. 112 David Kowalski (NM) 2-6, 6-3, 6-3
4. Chris Dong (AF) d. Kamil Pajkowski (NM) 7-5, 6-3
5. Justin Lau (AF) d. Eric Conklin (NM) 4-6, 6-2, 7-5
6. Robby Alexander (AF) d. Derek Boland (NM) 7-5, 6-1
Order of Finish: 1,6,4,2,3,5