Feb. 18, 2006
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The two-match win streak the No. 65 New Mexico men’s tennis team held over the No. 73 Denver Pioneers under head coach Alan Dils’ leadership came to an end today as the Pioneers slid past the Lobos, 4-3.
With the score 30-30, facing a tie-break with a loss, sophomore Kamil Pajkowski sliced the ball between Denver’s Adam Holmstrom and Niklas Persson to go up 40-30 at No. 1 doubles. Sophomore Max Jones returned Denver’s final serve and Pajkowski placed the ball down the right line, winning the match as Denver hit it into the net. The 9-7 win keeps Jones and Pajkowski undefeated at No. 1 with a 6-0 record and 10-2 overall.
Nejc Smole and Steve Flaks won 8-5 at No. 2 over freshmen Johnny Parkes and Miles Bugby, leaving it all up to the No. 3 match to decide the doubles point. Senior Eric Conklin and freshman Graeme Kassautzki, trailing 6-7, tried to rally at 15-30 in the final game but their tying shot was called out. Aljosa Nipic and Viktor Zetterholm held on the 8-6 win and a 1-0 Denver lead.
Holmstrom, ranked No. 28 in the nation in singles, gave Denver a 2-0 lead, getting past Jones 6-0, 4-6, 6-3. Flaks pushed the lead to 3-0, downing Pajkowski 6-4, 7-6.
Parkes kept the Lobos alive with a 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 upset of Persson, who is ranked No. 98 in the nation in singles, at No. 2. But Smole’s 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 win over Kassautzki at No. 3 clinched the match for Denver.
Freshman Chandler Brass netted a 7-6, 7-6 win over Nipic at No. 6 and Conklin dropped Zetterholm 6-4, 6-7, 6-3 to complete the match.
The Lobos return to the court tomorrow at 2 p.m., hosting the University of San Francisco at the UNM Tennis Complex.
No. 73 Denver 4, No. 65 New Mexico 2
Doubles
1. Jones/Pajkowski d. Holmstrom/Persson 9-7
2. Smole/Flaks d. Parkes/Miles Bugby 8-5
3. Nipic/Zetterholm d. Kassautzki/Conklin 8-6
Order of Finish: 1,2,3
Singles
1. #28 Adam Holmstrom d. Max Jones 6-0, 4-6, 6-3
2. Johnny Parkes d. #98 Niklas Persson 6-3, 2-6, 6-3
3. Nejc Smole d. Graeme Kassautzki 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
4. Steve Flaks d. Kamil Pajkowski 6-4, 7-6
5. Eric Conklin d. Viktor Zetterholm 6-4, 6-7, 6-3
6. Chandler Brass d. Aljosa Nipic 7-6, 7-6
Order of Finish: 1,4,2,3,6,5