ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — UNM won back-to-back regular season titles in 2019 and 2021 (there was no 2020 season due to COVID), and then lost 4-3 by the slimmest of margins in the Mountain West title match a year ago to Nevada. That UNM got to that point with a five-freshman lineup was something to behold, but it still hurt.
Now, the climb back to the top starts in the last place the team had a massive celebration, and that’s in Colorado Springs. The site of the teams’ 2021 MW title clinching victory is where UNM opens its Mountain West season, facing the Falcons at nopon on Sunday.
It won’t be an easy match, as none are in the league, but Air Force presents an interesting challenge. While the Falcons are 0-1 in the league having lost 4-3 at Nevada, the Faclons are 11-4 overall and a perfect 9-0 at home. Three of those wins were over Rice, East Tennessee State and Denver, and those three teams all defeated UNM this year. That more than anything hsows what a tough opener UNM drew.
But, the Lobos are feeling pretty good at 9-5 overall. Georgio Samaha is 10-1 in his last 11 matches, and Aram Noroozian is 9-2 in his last 11. Alex Maggs is 7-1 on the dual season and overall UNM is 51-28 in singles. A key could be doubles, where UNM has scuffled to win doubles points of late. The Lobos are just 13-18 overall in doubles in the spring, using 10 different lineup combinations. The pairing of Noroozian and Samaha has worked of late however, with the tandem going 3-1 at No. 2 doubles.