Feb. 27, 2011
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The University of New Mexico women’s tennis team (6-5) claimed a solid home match against the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (5-6). Seniors Ashley Bonner and Anya Villanueva won both of their singles and then paired to win their doubles in grand fashion. No. 1, No. 2, No.3 and No. 5 singles all left the court with victories.
Lobos started off the morning with doubles play. At the start of the matches, New Mexico looked to be down then rallied back to take the doubles point. The decisive match for the point came from Bonner and Villanueva who defeated Edit Suhajda and Orsi Golovics, 9-8 (6). Bonner and Villanueva pulled through the pressure of a tiebreaker to give the team momentum and confidence going into singles.
No. 5 singles, Bonner was the first one to come off the court in singles after beating Aimee Oki, 6-4, 6-0. Playing at No. 3 singles, freshman Nikolina Grbac won against Yumi Hasegawa, 6-1, 6-3. Sealing the win against the Lumberjacks, Villanueva defeated Orsi Golovics, 6-2, 6-2. New Mexico took their fifth point of the match in No. 1 singles. Where freshman, Michaela Bezdickova outlasted Suhajda in a three-set match, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5.
For the senior’s last match in the bubble for this year, it was well fit that both Bonner and Villanueva had outstanding performances. On talking about the season so far Bonner and Villanueva really feels the team has what they need to be successful.
Head Coach Roy Cañada thought it was a great match for the Lobos.
“The hard work is paying off,” Cañada said. “We have tipped the scale to the winning side again for the season. Headed into a couple of road games that will be tough for us, we are ready for the challenge. As I have told the team, the best is yet to come!”
Up next for New Mexico, they travel to Boise, Idaho. The team will start play against Boise State on Mar. 4 and then on Mar. 5 take on Montana.
FINAL SCORE: NM 5 NAU 2
UNM vs. NAU 2/27/11
Doubles
1. Bonner/Villanueva UNM def. Suhajda/Golovics NAU 9-8 (6)
2. Bezdickova/Grbac UNM def. Wahinepio/Hasegawa NAU 8-4
3. Perez/Oki NAU def. Richardson/Eggleston UNM 8-2
Order of finish: 3, 2, 1
Singles
1. Bezdickova UNM def. Suhajda NAU 6-3, 3-6, 7-5
2. Villanueva UNM def. Golovics NAU 6-2, 6-2
3. Grbac UNM def. Hasegawa NAU 6-1, 6-3
4. Wahinepio NAU def. Eggleston UNM 6-1, 6-1
5. Bonner UNM def. Oki NAU 6-4, 6-0
6. Perez NAU def. Oldani UNM 6-1, 6-2
Order of finish: 5, 4, 6, 3, 2, 1
SEASON RECORD:
NM 6-5
NAU 5-6