Box Score | 2017-18 Tennis Statistics
SAN ANTONIO, Texas — In a match where the Lobos were down 2-0 … they just might have gotten some help from above. The Lobos, in a second emotional return to the court this season, picked up their first road victory, winning at UTSA 4-2 as the team won four straight singles matches after being down 2-0. The match was the first since the death of Megan Callison-Martinez, the 16-year old terminally ill patient who was signed to a letter of intent just over three weeks ago and who had been a fixture at home matches and practices.
Callison-Martinez, whose funeral was yesterday, passed away early Sunday morning. “It was devastating news as Megan was loved by everyone associated with our program,” said head coach Stephanie Wooten-Quijada. “we will never forget the courage and bravery that she showed, and she will always be a part of our program. Although we didn’t know her all that long, she made a life-long impact on our team, and she will live forever in our hearts. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Megan’s parents Nicky Martinez and Janna Callison during this very difficult time.”
Early this year four Lobos, Diana Wong, Ruth Copas, Yue Lin “Polly” Chen and Hsiang-Wen “Albie” Wong were all injured in a car accident after the team returned home from its opening road trip, and the team postponed games for two weeks while the players recovered from the accident.
The win improved the Lobos to 3-5 on the season. The Lobos fell behind 1-0 by losing the doubles point. UNM took the lead with a 6-3 win at No. 2 doubles, with Ruth Copas and Natasha Munday defeating Sonia Madrona and Laura Cabrera. But, UNM lost at No. 3 doubles 6-3 and then at No. 1 6-4. The first singles match also went UTSA’s way, as Huang lost at No. 5 singles to Kylee Kato 6-2, 6-0.
From there however it was all Lobos. UNM won its first point at No. 6 singles with Chen winning 6-2, 6-0 over Sofie Boers. Bronte Murgett then made it 2-2 with a 6-1, 6-0 win at No. 3 singles over Ivana Ilic. UNM took a 3-2 lead when Texas native Danielle Quevedo won at No. 4 singles 7-5, 6-4 over Charleen Tiwari.
The Lobos needed to win either at No. 1 singles with Ruth Copas, or at No. 2 singles with Diana Wong, UNM’s two upperclassmen. While Copas was in a second set tiebreaker up 1-0, Wong clinched the match with a 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 win over Cabrera.
“I think the team was able to focus and I’m really proud of how they played,” said Wooten. “The team was gutted on Monday, but I think having them together traveling has helped. We played very well.”
UNM stays in Texas to take on UTRGV (The University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley) on Sunday. The Vaqueros were the former team of Wooten-Quijada before she became UNM’s head coach.
NOTES: Quevedo’s win was her 10th, tying for the most on the team with Copas … Wong’s win was the first win in eight tries at No. 2 singles this Spring … Murgett is now 5-3 in singles, which leads the team in the Spring season.