Lobos Fall to San Jose State in Mountain West First Round

LAS VEGAS, Nev. –– The New Mexico women’s tennis team were edged by San Jose State 4-3 on Wednesday in the opening round of the 2023 Mountain West Tournament at the Darling Tennis Center. The Lobos rallied from losing the doubles point to take a 3-1 lead, but couldn’t find the fourth singles win to complete the victory.

San Jose State took the early 1-0 advantage by winning the doubles point, with victories at the No. 1 and No. 2 positions.

The teams split the six first sets in singles as the Lobos looked to rally in the match with four singles wins. UNM tied the match, 1-1, when Leonie Hoppe topped Rozalina Youseva 6-1, 6-1 at the No.4 position. New Mexico took a 2-1 lead after Hsuan Huang defeated Jovana Babic 6-2, 6-1 at No. 5 singles. The Lobo advantage was extended to 3-1 when Sarah O’Connor posted a 6-3, 6-3 win at No. 1 over Carolina Millan.

San Jose State would record wins at No. 2 and No. 3 to draw even at 3-3, as the match came down to the contest at No. 6 singles, UNM’s Maria Sodre won the second set in a tiebreaker to force a decisive third set, but SJSU’s Olaya Bances Iglesias held on for the 6-4, 6-7(7), 6-2 win to allow the Spartans to advance to the quarterfinals.

New Mexico concludes the season with a 10-10 overall record.

No. 8 Seed San Jose State 4
No. 9 Seed New Mexico 3

Doubles:
1) Pedrero Galindo/Millan (SJSU) def. Jhang/Hoppe (UNM) 6-3
2) Muradyan/Youseva (SJSU) def. Vandeputte/Hunag (UNM) 6-4
3) O’Connor/Sodre (UNM) vs. Marco Mas/Bances Iglesias (SJSU) 3-3 DNF
Order of finish: 1,2

Singles:
1) Sarah O’Connor (UNM) def. Carolina Millan (SJSU) 6-3, 6-3
2) Alba Pedrero Galindo (SJSU) def. Katherine Jhang (UNM) 7-6(1), 6-2
3) Irena Muradyan (SJSU) def. Maud Vandeputte (UNM) 7-5, 7-5
4) Leonie Hoppe (UNM) def. Rozalina Youseva (SJSU) 6-1, 6-1
5) Hsuan Huang (UNM) def. Jovana Babic (SJSU) 6-2, 6-1
6) Olaya Bances Iglesias (SJSU) def. Maria Sodre (UNM) 6-4, 6-7(7), 6-2
Order of finish: 4,5,1,2,3,6