Huang Wins on Day One of Halloween Howl

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Hsuan Huang took a 6-4, 6-3 win on day one of the Lobo Halloween Howl, defeating Colorado State’s Radka Buzkova for UNM’s lone singles win on the day.

UNM played just four in singles on day one, and a full slate of three doubles as well.  The Lobos played Colorado State in singles and NAU in doubles.

Huang’s win was a highlight, but it was Satoho Toriumi and Yue Lin “Polly” Chen that played a pair of matches that bordered close to three hours each.  Toriumi, facing Matea Mihajevic of CSU, won her opening set 6-4, but couldn’t quite close it out, falling 6-2, 6-4 in the second and third.

Chen’s match was a barnburner, featuring plenty of wild points and rallies.  Facing Sarka Richterova, Chen took the first set 6-4 before dropping the second 6-2.  In the third down 4-3 and serving at 40-40, Chen hit a shot just a tick long, making it 5-3, and Richterova served it out from there.

UNM’s other singles match was Myu Kageyama, who lost 6-4, 6-3 to Somer Dalla-Bona.

In doubles, the pairing of Huang and Toriumi won 6-3 over NAU’s Gina Dittman and Sofia Markova.  Chen and Kageyama lost to NAU’s Elinor Beazley and Ava Neyestani 7-5.  Sarah O’Connor and Allison Romero lost an exhibition to a split team from NMSU and NAU 6-3.

Action continues tomorrow with New Mexico facing New Mexico State at 9:30 am at McKinnon, and the Lobos face the Colorado State Rams in doubles at 11:30 am.  NAU and NMSU play in singles at 1 pm.