BOULDER, Colo. – The University of New Mexico women’s tennis team earned mixed results on the first day of the CU Invite as they finished with a 2-2 record in both doubles and singles competition.
The Lobos started off the day with some pre-tournament singles matches against opponents from Liberty, Arkansas, and Southern Illinois. Sophomore Emily Olivier defeated SIU’s Athena Chrysanthou, 6-3, 7-6 (6) to earn her first victory of the weekend. Rachana Bhat also claimed a win for UNM as she tallied a quick 6-2, 6-1 victory over Razorback junior Nicole Breaux. Susan Baklini and Sharon Coone did not find the same success as they each fell to their opponent in the extra singles matches. Coone dropped a 6-2, 6-3 match to LU’s Belen Rivera. Baklini battled through three sets against SIU’s Yana Golovkina, but eventually lost with a final score of 2-6, 6-4, 1-0 (7).
In the afternoon, the CU Invite officially kicked off with two rounds of doubles competition (played with a six game pro-set format). Baklini and Bhat defeated LU’s Nicole Wellman and Maria Khval, 6-4, in the first round while Olivier and Coone came up short against UARK’s Breaux and Flavia Araujo, 6-4.
The tables turned in the second round of doubles as Olivier and Coone tallied a victory and Baklini and Bhat lost. Olivier and Coone recorded a perfect 6-0 win over SIU’s Chrysanthou and Vitoria Beirao. Baklini and Bhat lost 6-0 to CU’s upperclassmen duo Alex Aiello and Ashley Tiefel.
“Overall, it was a solid day of tennis,” head coach Erica Jasper said. “I liked how well we prepared and our energy was great.”
The tournament will resume on Friday morning as the Lobos begin competition in their singles brackets. Baklini will face UARK’s Elly Fryberger in the Ralphie singles draw, Bhar will face Utah’s Elena Najera-Salas in the Silver draw, Olivier will face and UARK’s Breaux also in the Silver draw, and Coone will take on SIU’s Ari Cairo Baza in the Black draw.
“Tomorrow will be another tough day,” Jasper said. “Our goal is to a little more disciplined and poised with our decision making.”
Head to golobos.com or the UNM Women’s Tennis Facebook page for results and updates throughout the weekend.
Doubles Round 1
Araujo/Breaux (Arkansas) def. Coone/Olivier (UNM), 6-4
Baklini/Bhat (UNM) def. Khval/Wellman (Liberty), 6-4
Doubles Round 2
Coone/Olivier (UNM) def. Beirao/Chrysanthou (SIU), 6-0
Aiello/Tiefel (CU) vs. Baklini/Bhat (UNM), 6-0
Singles Play (Extra Matches)
Bhat (UNM) def. Breaux (Ark), 6-2, 6-1
Olivier (UNM) def. Chrysanthou (SIU), 6-3, 7-6(6)
Rivera (Liberty) def. Coone (UNM), 6-2, 6-3
Golovkini (SIU) Baklini (UNM), 2-6, 6-4, 1-0(7)