Lobos Sweep Montana State 4-0 to Stay Unbeaten
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — New Mexico swept doubles and then was able to get a singles win from Maria Sodre to take down Montana State 4-0 in UNM’s only non-conference home match of the season. The win pushed the Lobos to 3-0 on the season as the team heads for a three-match road swing in Abilene, Texas next weekend.
UNM was able to take advantage of two wins by default in singles as injuries wreaked havoc with the bottom of the lineup for the Bobcats. In doubles, UNM didn’t need the freebie at No. 3 doubles as UNM swept the other matches. Leonie Hoppe and Katherine Jhang moved to 9-1 on the season with a 6-4 win in doubles at No. 1, giving UNM a clean sweep.
UNM officially clinched the doubles point when Maud Vandeputte and Maria Sodre took down JJ Chen and Felicia Jayasaputra 6-3.
That moved the match to singles where UNM picked up two points on defaults at Nos. 5 and 6 singles. That meant UNM just needed one win to clinch the match, and that seemed a foregone conclusion when UNM swept the opening sets in all four matches.
The clincher went to Maud Vandeputte who was able to put the finishing touches on a 6-0, 6-3 win just before Maria Sodre could, as her match at No. 4 singles was 6-1, 5-4 when it was abandoned.
Sarah O’Connor at No. 1 singles was up 6-4, 2-2 and Katherine Jhang was up 6-4, 2-1 at the finish.
The Lobos now have a few days to get ready for a trip to Abilene, Texas, when UNM will face the host Abilene Christian Wildcats on Friday before facing Tyler Junior College on Saturday and Lamar on Sunday.
NOTES: Jhang now has a team-best 13 doubles wins on the year … Vandeputte’s win gave her a team-leading 12 for the year … UNM is now 13-0 in singles and 8-0 in doubles in the spring.
