Feb. 2, 2007
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The 73rd-ranked New Mexico men’s tennis team upset No. 63 Nebraska, 5-2, tonight at the UNM Tennis Complex. With the match even at 2 all, the Lobos sealed the victory, winning the last three singles matches.
Juniors Chris Parkes and Kamil Pajkowski dominated Renato Melo and Adrian Szatmary at No. 2 doubles, racing out to a 7-0 lead. Melo and Szatmary notched one game before Parkes and Pajkowski put the match away, winning 8-1.
Sophomore Graeme Kassautzki and freshman Joe Nicolazzi looked poised to match Parkes and Pajkowski’s performance, building a 7-2 advantage over James Clow and Francois Van Impe. The Husker duo was resilient, taking the next four games, pulling within one at 7-6. The Lobo tandem never gave up, breaking Nebraska’s serve for the 8-6 win and the doubles point.
Sophomore Johnny Parkes put New Mexico up 2-0 with a quick 6-3, 6-4 win over Clow at No. 2 singles. Nebraska’s Adrian Szatmary, ranked No. 78, got the Huskers back in the match with a 6-3, 6-3 win over junior Max Jones, ranked No. 73 nationally, at No. 1. The Huskers’ Henrik Stahner evened the score with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over sophomore Miles Bugby at No. 4.
Kassautzki, playing No.3, put the Lobos at match point thanks to a 7-5, 6-3 win over David Bendheim. Parkes went to a tie-break at No. 6 against Melo before he was able to clinch the match with a 6-4, 7-6(5) win. Pajkowski tacked on the final point, downing Van Impe 6-2, 6-7, 6-3 at No. 5.
The Lobos, now 2-1 overall, return to the court Sunday at 11 a.m., hosting the 61st-ranked Arizona Wildcats.
NO. 73 NEW MEXICO: 5 – NO. 63 NEBRASKA: 2
Doubles
1. Mark Tate & Bendheim (NEB) def. Bugby & J. Parkes (UNM), 8-7(7)
2. C. Parkes & Pajkowski (UNM) def. Melo & Szatmary (NEB), 8-1
3. Kassautzki & Nicolazzi (UNM) def. Clow & Van Impe (NEB), 8-6
Order of Finish: 2,3,1
Singles
1. No. 78 Adrian Szatmary (NEB) def. No. 73 Max Jones (UNM), 6-3, 6-3
2. Johnny Parkes (UNM) def. James Clow (NEB), 6-3, 6-4
3. Graeme Kassautzki (UNM) def. David Bendheim (NEB) 7-5, 6-3
4. Henrik Stahner (NEB) def. Miles Bugby (UNM), 6-3, 6-2
5. Kamil Pajkowski (UNM) def. Francois Van Impe (NEB), 6-2, 6-7, 6-3
6. Chris Parkes (UNM) def. Ranato Melo (NEB), 6-4, 7-6(5)
Order of Finish: 2,1,4,3,6,5