March 18, 2006
Malibu, Calif. – No. 59 New Mexico lost in a 6-1 match against No. 17 Pepperdine in Malibu, Calif. at an away match yesterday, March 17. The match, originally scheduled for 1:30 p.m., was moved up to 11 a.m. because of rain forecasts. Just as the match was about to begin heavy, steady rain began. After a two hour delay and a break in the weather a last minute decision was made to continue with the match leading the Lobos to their third loss of the season.
“It was mental more than anything,” said sophomore Lucy Scott. “It rained so much so we thought we weren’t playing, then last minute we were. I mean, they were good, but if we had played at the scheduled time we’d have done better.”
In doubles action Pepperdine played their No. 17 ranked team at the No. 2 doubles spot defeating Scott and Ola Abou-Zekry 8-1. At the No. 1 spot the 2nd ranked team of Iva Gersic and Maja Kovacek defeated the No. 36 duo of Merve Asimgil and Sylvia Kosakowski 8-4. This is only the second time this season that the Lobos have not won the doubles point, the first being against Oklahoma State on Feb. 18.
New Mexico continued to have a difficult time in singles with No. 27 Maja Kovacek losing at the No. 1 spot to 34th ranked Bianca Dulgheru 6-1, 6-2. No. 116 Iva Gersic upset the No. 93 Kosakowski 3-6, 6-2, 10-8 at the No. 2 spot earning the team’s first match point.
The Lobos will be back in action next week as they begin their conference schedule against Air Force in a neutral match in Fort Worth, Texas at 2 p.m. on March 24. They continue on the 25th against Colorado State at 10 a.m. and finish the weekend on the 26th against Wyoming at 10 a.m., also in neutral matches in Fort Worth Texas.
New Mexico 1, Pepperdine 6
Doubles Matches
1. No. 2 Gersic/Kovacek UNM) def. No. 36 Merve Asimgil/Kosakowski (PEP) 8-4
2. No. 17 Dickes Dulgheru (PEP) def. Scott/Abou-Zekry (UNM) 8-1
3. Braverman/Raba (PEP) def. Quintal/Ryba (UNM) 8-3
Singles Matches
1. No. 34 Bianca Dulgheru (PEP) def. No. 27 Maja Kovackey (UNM) 6-1, 6-2
2. No. 116 Iva Gersic (UNM) def. No. 93 Sylvia Kosakowski (PEP) 3-6, 6-2, 10-8
3. Caroline Raba (PEP) def. Nora Quintal (UNM) 6-4, 6-34. No. 125 Natalie Braverman (PEP) def. Ola Abou-Zekry (UNM) 6-1, 6-1
5. Eva Dickes (PEP) def. Lucy Scott (UNM) 6-3, 6-3
6. Merve Asimgil (PEP) def. Mackenzie White (UNM) 3-6, 6-3, 10-8