Women’s Tennis Signs Coumba Ben
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Coumba Ben, who has been on the tennis court for nearly 18 years, has been signed to the Lobo women’s tennis team, said head coach Vicky Maes. Ben, born in Mali, currently resides and trains in Dubai.
Ben will join UNM in January 2025 and is expected to be eligible for the spring season as UNM defends its Mountain West regular season title.
“Coumba is a nice addition to our squad,” said Maes. “Her international training and playing experience will be of great benefit to our program. She will need to hit the ground running when she arrives in the spring, for sure, but we are excited to see her in action and believe her game will translate well to collegiate competition.”
Ben, whose full name is Coumba Ben Mamadou Niangadou, was ranked No. 1 in Mali at the junior level, as well as No. 1 in the United Arab Emirates. In Dubai, Coumba regularly trains and competes in temperatures above 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Coumba was also ranked No. 1 in the UAE for U14, U16 and U18. She has a pair of ITF Junior Titles and, in 2022, won the ITF J4 Ghana Open in doubles.
UNM opens its 2025 season at the ITA Kickoff Weekend in Charlottesville, Virginia against #5 Virginia on January 24.