March 1, 2006
ON TAP THIS WEEKEND: The University Of New Mexico will host twomatches this weekend at the Lobo Tennis Complex against the PortlandPilots and the No. 49 Buffaloes of Colorado. New Mexico sophomoresMax Jones and Kamil Pajkowski were ranked No. 32 in the nationfor doubles teams in the latest ITA poll. The ranking is the first forany Lobos this spring. The last time a UNM tandem was ranked indoubles was Ryan Stotland and David Kowalski at No. 5 last year. Thisweekend is the third in what has been a month long homestand for theLobos.
PREVIEW OF THE PILOTS: Portland is 5-5 on the season and iscoached byninth year man Aaron Gross. The Pilots are comming offa 18-6 season that included an 11 match win streak. This weekendsmatch will mark the first time the schools have met.
BRIEFING ON THE BUFFALOS: Colorado is currently ranked No.49 and is off to a 4-3 record in 2006. Coached by Sam Winterbothamwho is in his fourth year the Buffs have lost three in a row but havefaced quality opponents. Last year Colorado and New Mexico mettwice with CU taking both. Colorado leads the all-time series 17-4.
LOBOS LAST TIME OUT:The two-match win streak the No. 65 NewMexico men’s tennis team held over the No. 73 Denver Pioneersunder head coach Alan Dils’ leadership came to an end today as thePioneers slid past the Lobos, 4-3.With the score 30-30, facing a tie-break with a loss, sophomoreKamil Pajkowski sliced the ball between Denver’s Adam Holmstromand Niklas Persson to go up 40-30 at No. 1 doubles. Sophomore MaxJones returned Denver’s final serve and Pajkowski placed the balldown 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 9-0 overall.Holmstrom, ranked No. 28 in the nation in singles, gave Denver a 2-0lead, 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 forDenver.The No. 65 New Mexico men’s tennis team remained undefeatedagainst the San Francisco Dons with a 5-1 win at the UNM TennisComplex this afternoon. The win was the Lobos’ third straight overthe Dons since the series began in 2003.The Lobos swept the doubles action to grab the first point of thematch. Sophomores Max Jones and Kamil Pajkowski disposed ofMatt Berry and Korbiniav Kramer, 8-2, remaining undefeated (7-0) atNo. 1 and 11-2 overall. Freshmen Johnny Parkes and Miles Bugbynetted an 8-4 win at No. 2 over Mitch Del Rosario and FernandoRodriguez while senior Eric Conklin and freshman GraemeKassautzki edged out Thong Tu and Rafael Corazza, 9-7 at No. 3. Pajkowski pushed the lead to 2-0 with a 6-1, 6-1 handling of Tu atNo. 5 singles. Rodriguez put the Dons on the scoreboard with a 6-3,6-2 win at No. 4 over Conklin. Jones and Kassautzki sealed the Lobo win at No. 1 and 3, respectively. Jones slid past Berry, 6-1, 6-3 while Kassautzki downed Kramer 6-1, 6-4. Parkes rallied from a first set loss, winning 6-7, 7 -3, 10-2 at No. 2. Freshman Chandler Brass was up 7-6, 3-2 in his No. 6 match vs. Del Rosario when it was called.
