DALLAS, Texas – The No. 41 University of New Mexico women’s tennis team dropped its final non-conference match of the season on Saturday afternoon, as the Lobos fell to the Tulane Green Wave 4-2. UNM is now 10-7 on the season.
“Congrats to Tulane on a well played match,” head coach Erica Jasper said. “It was a battle from start to finish. In terms of what we set out to do after yesterday’s loss, we did it, however we still lacked some grit and toughness at spots where we needed it most.”
The Lobos gave up the doubles point after falling in the No. 1 and No. 3 positions. Emily Olivier and Natasha Smith dropped a 6-3 match to Tulane’s Naz Karagoz and Sade Atkinson in the No. 1 position. Susan Baklini and Sharon Coone fell to Ipek Birol and Jacqui Katz in the No. 3 position, 6-1.
Dominique Dulski and Meredith Hopson were down 4-5 against Nicky Stracar and Vanessa Nommensen when the point was clinched.
“We’ve got to be more competitive at the No. 3 doubles spot moving forward–that’s on me as a coach,” Jasper added. “Our No. 1 and No. 2 doubles are putting themselves out there every match. We’ll work at that the next week, figure out who is capable and willing to do the work the right way, so we are ready for conference play.”
The Lobos came out stronger in singles play as Smith and Olivier both picked up victories for UNM. Smith, the only Lobo senior, defeated Birol 6-4, 6-1 in the No. 1 spot while Olivier tallied a 6-4, 6-4 win over Stracar in the No. 2 spot.
However the lower half of the UNM lineup did not find the same success. Dulski dropped a 6-2, 6-2 match to Nommensen in the No. 4 position; Rachana Bhat fell to Katz in the No. 5 spot, 6-1, 6-1; Coone fell to Meredith Malty in a tight 7-6 (4), 6-3 match in the No. 6 spot.
Hopson was in the midst of a third set with Karagoz in the No. 3 spot when their match was declared unfinished; 5-7, 6-4, 2-2.
The Lobos return home for their next two matches as they play host to conference opponents Utah State (Thursday, April 2) and Boise State (Sunday, April 5) at the McKinnon Family Tennis Stadium.
Twitter: @UNMWomensTennis | Facebook: Facebook.com/UNM.Women.Tennis | Instagram: newmexicowtennis
COMPLETE RESULTS:
Doubles:
1) Naz Karagoz/Sade Atkinson (Tulane) def. Emily Olivier/Natasha Smith (UNM), 6-3
2) Dominique Dulski/Meredith Hopson (UNM) & Nicky Stracar/Vanessa Nommensen (Tulane), 4-5, unfinished
3) Ipek Birol/Jacqui Katz (Tulane) def. Susan Baklini/Sharon Coone (UNM), 6-1
Singles:
1) Natasha Smith (UNM) def. Ipek Birol (Tulane), 6-4, 6-1
2) Emily Olivier (UNM) def. Nicky Stracar (Tulane), 6-4, 6-4
3) Meredith Hopson (UNM) & Naz Karagoz (Tulane) – 5-7, 6-4, 2-2, unfinished
4) Vanessa Nommensen (Tulane) def. Dominique Dulski (UNM), 6-2, 6-2
5) Jacqui Katz (Tulane) def. Rachana Bhat (UNM), 6-1, 6-1
6) Meredith Malty (Tulane) def. Sharon Coone (UNM), 7-6 (4), 6-3