April 24, 2008
FORT WORTH, Texas – No. 3 New Mexico defeated sixth-seeded San Diego State by a score of 4-2 on Thursday in the quarterfinals of the 2008 Mountain West Conference Women’s Tennis Championships at the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center. The Lobos improved to 15-8 overall this season with the win.
New Mexico took decisions at the No. 1 and No. 3 doubles positions to clinch the first point in two tightly-contested matches. The New Mexico duo of Emma Hayman and Victoria Tessmar began play with an 8-6 victory over Esther Cadua and Kathryn Kitts at the No. 3 spot, while the Lobo duo of Ola Abou-Zekry and Lucy Scott prevailed over Ellie Krausova and Julia Trunk by a score of 8-6 to capture the point.
The Lobos won the first two singles matches to jump out to a 3-0 lead in the contest. Scott cruised past Krausova at the No. 3 position by a score of 6-2, 6-2, while Hayman earned a win at the No. 4 slot after Cadua was forced to retire in the second set.
The Aztecs rallied back with wins at the No. 1 and No. 5 positions. Holly Bagshaw secured a big win over All-MWC performer Ola Abou-Zekry at the top spot by a score of 0-6, 7-5, 6-2, while Milana Yusupov downed Jennifer Ryba at the No. 5 slot by a score of 6-2, 1-6, 6-4.
New Mexico’s Maria Sotirchos would put a stop to the Aztecs’ rally, defeating Sisse Nielsen by a score of 6-2, 5-7, 6-2, to clinch the match.
The Lobos (15-8) will face No. 2 UNLV (15-8) on Friday at 10 a.m. CDT in the semifinals. The two programs battled on April 5 in Las Vegas, Nev. After the Rebels gathered the 1-0 lead with the doubles point, four singles courts went to a third set for a decision. UNLV prevailed on all six singles courts to sweep the Lobos 7-0. The two teams tied for second place in the MWC with the Rebels earning the higher seed after their victory over UNM. The Rebels hold a 9-5 advantage in the all-time series history.
No. 3 New Mexico (15-8) def. No. 6 San Diego State (11-13), 4-2
SINGLES
1. Holly Bagshaw (SDSU) def. Ola Abou-Zekry (UNM) 0-6, 7-5, 6-2
2. Mackenzie White (UNM) vs. Julia Trunk (SDSU) 6-4, 4-6, 1-1, unf.
3. Lucy Scott (UNM) def. Ellie Krausova (SDSU) 6-2, 6-2
4. Emma Hayman (UNM) def. Esther Cadua (SDSU) 4-6, 4-1, ret. inj.
5. Milana Yusupov (SDSU) def. Jennifer Ryba (UNM) 6-2, 1-6, 6-4
6. Maria Sotirchos (UNM) def. Sisse Nielsen (SDSU) 6-2, 5-7, 6-2
Order of Finish: 3, 4, 1, 5, 6*
DOUBLES
1. Abou-Zekry/Scott (UNM) def. Krausova/Trunk (SDSU) 8-6
2. Neilsen/Bagshaw (SDSU) vs. White/Ryba (UNM) 7-6, unf.
3. Hayman/Tessmar (UNM) def. Cadua/Kitts (SDSU) 8-6
Order of Finish: 3, 1*
*Clinching point