March 15, 2006
Sacramento, Calif. – The No. 59 New Mexico women’s tennis had a big upset against No. 49 Sacramento State in an away match in Sacramento, Calif. today winning 6-1. The win brings the Lob’s season record to 9-2 with their only losses against No. 12 Arizona State and No. 27 Fresno State. Last year Sacramento State defeated the Lobos at home in the Lobo Tennis Club 4-3, ending New Mexico’s home winning streak. Today, the Lobos were able to repay the favor.
The Lobos characteristically took the doubles point after winning at the No. 1 and 3 spots. The 2nd ranked duo of Iva Gersic and Maja Kovacek defeated Margarita Karnaukhova and Anastassia Lyssenko 8-4 at the No. 1 spot. Jennifer Ryba and Nora Quintal stepped up in the No. 3 spot to get the doubles point defeating Cecilia Helland and Svetlana Pimenova 8-5.
“This was a great match,” head coach Kathy Kolankiewicz said. “It was the first time as a team that we played really goos singles. “
New Mexico stepped up in singles action winning five of the six singles points. No. 116 Gersic played at the No. 1 spot defeating Karnaukhova in a tough match 1-6, 7-5 (10-6). No. 27 Kovacek dominated the No. 2 spot defeating Luba Schifris 6-3, 6-4. At the No. 3 spot Quintal also defeated her opponent, Joyce Martinez Gutierrez, in two sets, 6-2, 7-6. At the No. 4 spot Lucy Scott earned a tough win against Karina Jarlkaganova 6-0, 6-7, 7-5. To finish off the singles wins Ola Abou-Zekry defeated Helland 6-3, 6-1.
New Mexico 6, Sacramento State 1
Doubles Matches
1. No. 2 Kovacek/Gersic (UNM) def. Lyssenko/Karnaukhova (SAC) 8-4
2. Martinez/Schifris (SAC) def. Scott/Abou-Zekry (UNM) 8-2
3. Quintal/Ryba (UNM) def. Helland/Pimenova (SAC) 8-5
Singles Matches
1. Iva Gersic (UNM) def. Margarita Karnaukhova (SAC) 1-6, 7-5 (10-6)
2. Maja Kovacek (UNM) def. Luba Schifris (SAC) 6-3, 6-4
3. Nora Quintal (UNM) def. Joyce Martinez Gutierrez (SAC) 6-2, 7-6
4. Lucy Scott (UNM) def. Karina Jarlkaganova (SAC) 6-0, 6-7, 7-5
5. Ola Abou-Zekry (UNM) def. Cecilia Helland (SAC) 6-3, 6-1
6. Svetlana Pimenova (SAC) Jennifer Ryba (UNM) 7-6. 6-1