June 30, 2009
Kathy Kolankiewicz ended her final season as the head coach of the University of New Mexico women’s tennis team after 24 years. The team finished 10-14 overall and 4-4 in the Mountain West Conference. Kolankiewicz posted double digit wins each year she coached at New Mexico and ended her tenure with an all-time record of 356-236.
Kolankiewicz earned her 350th win with a 4-3 victory on March 19 against UT-Arlington. She retired as the winningest coach in program history and guided the Lobos to seven NCAA Championship appearances her last 13 seasons. From 1986-2009 Kolankiewicz took the women’s tennis team to either the finals or semifinals of the conference championships.
This year was no different as the Lobos advanced to the semifinals of the Mountain West Conference Championships before dropping a 4-1 decision to UNLV. The Lobos ended the 2009 season with three players – seniors Ola Abou-Zekry and Mackenzie White, and sophomore Emma Hayman – earning all-conference honors and Abou-Zekry taking home the MWC Player of the Year award.
Abou-Zekry, who was named to the all-MWC team in singles and doubles (with partner Hayman), went 25-11 this year in singles, spending most of her time at the No. 1 position. The Cairo, Egypt product posted a 16-8 record in spring play, taking 12 in two sets. Abou-Zekry dropped just two sets in her last five matches and was 24-1 when she won the first set. She was 8-2 when the team won. Due to her performance she was voted most valuable player by the team for the 2008-2009 season and also had the most combined wins with 42.
Abou-Zekry ended her New Mexico career 83-50 in singles (No. 8 all-time at UNM) and was ranked three out of her four years at New Mexico as well as being named to the all-conference team her last three years.
In doubles play, she and Hayman went 9-8 and won by an average of three games per match. Abou-Zekry finished her career ranked No. 9 on New Mexico’s most combined singles and doubles wins with 149.
She achieved off the court as well, earning the ITA Scholar Athlete as well as Academic all-MWC honors and was named three times to the Academic All-Mountain West Conference team.
Fellow senior Mackenzie White played some of the best tennis of her career this season posting a 22-10 overall record. White ended spring play a team-best in singles with a 17-7 record. The Mobile, Ala. product was 18-0 when she won the first set and 5-2 when she split sets. White won nine of her last 11 sets and went 8-1 after March 27.
She finished her career tied with Chris Hoffee at No. 12 on the New Mexico career singles wins list with 74.
Off the court White was a four-time recipient of the MWC Academic all-MWC team in 2006 and 2007. White earned ITA Scholar Athlete honors in 2006 and 2008 and was recently awarded the ITA/Arthur Ashe Award for Leadership and Sportsmanship for the central region.
White ended her collegiate career with a singles record of 74-53 and a doubles record of 48-53. She was voted most spirited for the 2008-2009 by her teammates.
Maria Sotirchos went 8-17 in singles play this season and 6-13 in spring. The Oak Hill, VA. product was 7-0 when she won the first set.
Sotirchos ended her collegiate career with a 23-46 record in singles and 27-38 in doubles.
Sotirchos earned MWC Scholar Athlete honors twice and she has three times been named to the MWC Academic All-Conference team and has been named an ITA Scholar Athlete from 2007 to 2008. She also earned the highest GPA on the team for the 2008-2009 season.
Emma Hayman posted another strong year finishing with an overall record of 21-13 in singles play. Hayman went 14-9 in spring play. The Wanganui, New Zealand product was 18-0 when she won the first set. Hayman dropped only three sets in her final five matches.
In doubles play Hayman went 9-8 with partner Abou-Zekry. Hayman, along with doubles partner Abou-Zekry were named to the MWC All-Conference doubles team for 2009.
Hayman’s current record is 45-29 in singles and 32-31 in doubles.
Sophomore Victoria Tessmar went 9-17 overall and 5-10 in the spring. The Stockholm, Sweden product was 4-0 when she won the first set.
Tessmar’s ends her sophomore season with a record of 22-29 in singles and 23-25 in doubles.
Fellow sophomore Ashley Bonner improved dramatically during her sophomore year posting a 9-17 record in singles after only playing in five matches her freshman year. The Los Alamos, New Mexico product went 5-4 in spring play and was 8-1 when she won the first set. She closes out her sophomore year with a 9-19 record in singles and 6-12 record in doubles. As a result of her performance Bonner was voted as the most improved player by her teammates.
Villanueva-Forte saw a lot more action this year as the Mexico City native went 7-13 overall and won each spring match in two sets.
Villanueva-Forte went 12-20 overall in doubles spending most of her time with Bonner. The duo won five of their last six matches together.
With Kolankiewicz, associate head coach, Roy Cañada will take over the program for the 2009-2010 season.