Huang’s Clincher Gives UNM 4-3 Road Win at CSUN
NORTHRIDGE, Calif. — Hsaing-Wen “Albie” Huang’s come-from-behind 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 win at No. 5 singles clinched a heart-stopping 4-3 win for New Mexico, UNM’s second road win of the season. The win came over a CSUN team that had just one loss entering the match and was coming off a 4-3 win over Oregon of the Pac-12.
The Lobos moved to 2-3 on the season with a change to even their record at 3-3 with a match on Friday at 2:30 pm against Cal State Fullerton Titans.
“It feels good to finally be on the winning end of a 4-3 match,” said head coach Vicky Maes, who watched UNM twice lose 4-3 on the road this season. “CSUN is a very good team and to beat them at their place is a great accomplishment for our squad.”
UNM took the doubles point, which was again a key, with a big win at No. 2 doubles by Sara Kuuttila-Webbert and Myu Kageyama, winning 6-3 to clinch the doubles point and move to 5-0 in doubles this spring.
The match went straight to 2-0 with a UNM default win at No. 6 singles. The teams split the next two matches, with CSUN getting on the board at No. 2 singles with a 6-3, 6-0 win by Ana Fraile Toboso. UNM countered right away with a 6-4, 6-2 straight set win at No. 4 by Munday. That put UNM in a position of needing just one more win to clinch a key early-season road win.
It took a little longer than UNM would have hoped as CSUN was able to tie the match at 3-3. First the Matadors took a 6-1, 6-4 win at No. 1 singles, and then in a fantastic match that had a razor-thin margin, CSUN’s Emma Roenholt defeated Alisia Manolescu 7-5, 7-6 (7-3). That tied it up, but UNM was in great shape with Huang at the controls.
“Albie came up clutch when we really needed it and Tash (Munday) also had a batter to get that win in singles,” said Maes. Huang had lost her opening set 6-1, but quickly turned it around and was in control in her third set when the Matadors tied it. After winning 6-3 to force the third set, she then rolled to the clinching 6-2 third set win, giving the Lobos their first 4-3 win of the season.
“We still have a lot of growing to do,” said Maes, adding, “we are getting better and better with each experience which is really what we are focusing on.”
NOTES: Huang improved to a perfect 3-0 in the spring season in singles … CSUN had won 13 of its last 15 home matches entering the day … under Maes UNM has won six of its last 10 road matches dating back to March 13, 2019.