Feb. 5, 2009
Up Next For The Lobos…
The No. 49 University of New Mexico travels to No. 58 Oregon Friday to take on the Ducks (3-2) at the Oregon Tennis Courts at 10 a.m. Mountain. While in Oregon the Lobos (2-2) will also be meeting No. 39 Colorado (3-2) on Saturday at 10 a.m.
Who Are The Ducks?
The Oregon Ducks are coming off a loss to No. 41 Pepperdine on Feb. 1. The Ducks are returning six letterman including No. 107 Carmen Sermeta. Oregon finished the 2008 season 10-12 and 3-5 in the Pac-10 conference. Head coach Paul Reber is in his third year and holds a record of 22-24.
Who Are The Buffaloes?
Colorado is coming off a win over then No. 38 UNLV. The Buffs return six letterwinners including No. 110 Monica Milewski. CU is coached by Nicole Kenneally who has an overall record of 303-735 in her 10 years in Boulder. Colorado ended the 2008 season 12-11 and 8-3 for a fourth place finish in the Big 12 Conference.
Last Time Against The Ducks…
On May 15, 2004 New Mexico lost to the Ducks in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, 4-3. The Lobos have a 2-2 all time record against Oregon.
Last Time Against Colorado…
The Lobos defeated the Buffaloes, 4-3, last year on Jan. 19 at the Randy Briggs Indoor Tennis Bubble. The Lobos won four of the six singles matches with Emma Hayman clinching the win. New Mexico has an all-time record of 12-5 against Colorado.
What Have The Lobos Done Lately?
New Mexico freshman Manumea Durie had a big win in a three-hour match against Jessica Gomez of Washington State to clinch the 4-3 for the Lobos on Feb. 1 in the consolation match at the ITA National Team Indoor Tournament. Durie won the first set, 7-5, but could keep the lead in the second set, falling 5-7. In the third set Durie was down, 4-5, but saved the last three match points to make the score 7-6. She went on to win the tiebreaker, 7-4.
The Lobos opened the Tournament with a 7-0 loss to No.1 Northwestern on Jan. 31.
National Rankings…
The University of New Mexico start of the spring season ranked No. 49 according to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association poll released Jan. 6. Other Mountain West Conference schools making the list are TCU at No. 21, BYU at 44, UNLV at No. 48 and Utah at No. 50.
National Spotlight…
Doubles team senior Mackenzie White and sophomore Emma Hayman begin the season tied at the No. 54 spot. Neither White nor Hayman have ever been ranked before. The duo compiled a fall record of 4-2.
Did You Know…
Six of the ten players on the roster are international. Two of the players are native New Mexicans. This past summer all of courts (indoor and out) were resurfaced along with the indoor courts all receiving new hardware. The Lobos have had a winning record for the past 12 years. The Lobos earned a 3.65 GPA for the 2007-2008 school year. Seniors Ola Abou-Zekry, Maria Sotirchos and Mackenzie White all received above a 4.0 for the 2008 fall semester.
Strength of Schedule…
Lobos have started out with a very tough schedule. New Mexico has already played three teams that advanced to the NCAA Tournament last year. Four opponents are ranked in the top 50 of the ITA poll and six finished the 2008 season with winning records.