April 26, 2007
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – After losing twice earlier in the season to 55th-ranked New Mexico, the 71st-ranked BYU Cougars finally got the best of the Lobos, edging past them, 4-3, in the quarterfinals of the Mountain West Conference Championship.
The match was tied 3-3 with the deciding point resting on the team’s aces, All-Mountain West singles selections Max Jones and 109th-ranked James Ludlow. Ludlow got behind, 6-5, but rallied back for a 7-6 (1) win in the third and final set.
BYU was victorious at Nos. 2 and 3 doubles, garnering a one-point advantage. The No. 1 doubles match was not finished since the point was decided but Jones and Kamil Pajkowski held a 7-6 lead over Ludlow and Dominik Kaufhold.
Chris Parkes, who technically lost to Cassidy Mears in the teams’ meeting on March 30 when he retired with an injury in the third set, cruised past Mears to even the score at 1. Parkes, who won his fifth straight singles match in two quick sets, won 6-2, 6-3, improving to 17-3 overall.
Graeme Kassautzki, the team’s leader in singles wins, gave New Mexico a 2-1 lead with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 win at No. 3 over Kaufhold, improving to 30-11 in singles play.
But BYU wouldn’t go away, winning the next two matches at Nos. 4 and 6, respectively, to reclaim the advantage (3-2).
On the brink of elimination, Johnny Parkes responded, netting a 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (1), win over Chip Hand at No. 2.
The Cougars have eliminated the Lobos from the MWC Championship in the first round the last two consecutive seasons. BYU, the tournament’s fifth seed, advances to the semifinals tomorrow at 10 a.m., taking on top-seeded San Diego State, ranked No. 47 in the nation.
The Lobos, 14-9 overall, are done for the season unless they earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. The team selections will be announced on the NCAA Web sites (www.NCAAsports.com and www.NCAA.org) no later than 3 p.m. Eastern time, Tuesday, May 1. The singles and doubles entrants will be posted on the NCAA Web sites no later than 6 p.m. Eastern time, Wednesday,May 2.
No. 71 BYU (No. 5) def. No. 55 UNM (No. 4), 4-3
Doubles
1. Jones & Pajkowski (UNM) vs. Ludlow/Kaufhold (BYU), DNF – UNM led 7-6
2. Hand & Sanchez (BYU) def. C. Parkes & J. Parkes (UNM), 8-5
3. Mears & Planck (BYU) def. Kassautzki & Brass (UNM) 8-6
Order of Finish: 2,3,1
Singles
1. #109 James Ludlow (BYU) def. Max Jones (UNM) 5-7, 7-6 (1), 7-6 (1)
2. Johnny Parkes (UNM) def. Chip Hand (BYU) 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (1)
3. Graeme Kassautzki (UNM) def. Dominik Kaufhold (BYU) 6-2, 3-6, 6-2
4. Jonathan Sanchez (BYU) def. Miles Bugby (UNM) 6-4, 7-6 (6)
5. Chris Parkes (UNM) def. Cassidy Mears (BYU) 6-2, 6-3
6. Cale Planck (BYU) def. Kamil Pajkowski (UNM) 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
Order of Finish: 5,3,4,6,2,1