Lobos Hang Tough But Fall to Fresno State 4-1
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — UNM fell behind 3-0 but was right there inthe match with Fresno State before ultimately falling 4-1 at McKinnon Family Tennis Stadium. Maria Sodre picked up UNM’s lone point with a win at No. 5 singles.
The Lobos now face the tough task of taking on conference-leading San Jose State which stands at 14-1 and 5-0 in the conference but needed a comeback win to take down Air Force 4-3 in Colorado on Friday.
UNM fell behind 3-0 as it lost the doubles point in a sweep and then Fresno State took singles matches at No. 4 (Andjela Popicic over Marika Matsoukatidi 6-0, 6-3) and No. 2 (Sofia Pizzoni 6-2, 6-4 over Sarah O’Connor). That seemingly put the pressure on UNM but the remaining four singles matches were all in play and getable for UNM.
Maria Sodre got a win at No. 5 singles 6-1, 7-5 over Paulina Montiel, and that made it 3-1 with Maud Vandeputte up a set at No. 1, Rebekkah Gaines in a third and SOfia Taborga in a battle at No. 6, but down a set.
Fresno State got the clinch it needed when Eliza Dunbar bounced back from 15-40 to serve out a 6-3, 6-4 win, clinching the win. Vandeputte was up a set 7-6 (7-5) but down 5-4 in the second, and Gaines was trailing 5-4 in the third when the match ended.
NOTES: Sodre’s win was her team-leading 13th of the season.
