Sept. 8, 2005
SKILLMAN, N.J.- University of New Mexico women’s tennis players senior Maja Kovacek and junior Iva Gersic were ranked among top college tennis players for the 2005-06 preseason rankings edition of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. Kovacek received a No. 30 ranking in the nation for singles while Gersic was listed at No. 49 for singles play. The duo also claimed the highest ranking in New Mexico women’s tennis history with a preseason doubles ranking of No. 3.
Kovacek and Gersic had a very successful 2004-05 season. Both were honored with the Mountain West Conference Player of the Year award after finishing the conference regular season undefeated in doubles competition. In postseason action, the duo traveled to Athens. Ga. to participate in the NCAA doubles championship. Kovacek also competed in the singles portion of the national tournament, making her the first UNM women’s tennis player to compete in both events for two years straight.
With the No. 3 doubles ranking, Kovacek and Gersic are the highest ranked doubles team in the Mountain West Conference. MWC rivals BYU lists the second highest ranked doubles team at the No. 15 spot.
Both Lobo players hail from Croatia with Kovacek coming from Pula and Gersic from Koprivnica. Their doubles partnership dates back long before their collegiate careers as they often played doubles together in Croatia when they were around 11 years old.