ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. --- Yu Yun “Kathy” Tsai picked up a singles win, but UNM lost the doubles point for the first time in six matches, and the return of two players from injury wasn’t enough as UNLV beat UNM 4-1 in the conference opener for both teams.
Ana Veroux and Lea Malazdra, who missed the past three weeks of matches, returned to the lineup, but the pairing lost in doubles 6-1 at No. 2 in their first match back. Bente Vandeputte and Tsai lost 6-3 at No. 1 to give UNLV the double point, spoiling a solid effort by the Corley sisters, who were three points from a win.
In singles, Tsai made quick work of Eszter Kis-Czako, winning 6-1, 6-1, but UNLV won the open set on four courts to take control of the match, but it wasn’t without a battle from UNM.
Only Veroux, along with Tsai, won her opening set, taking it over Hudson Hawkins 6-4. She would be forced to a third set after Hawkins bounced back with a 6-2 second set.
At No. 6 singles, Marika Matsoukatidi found herself down 4-0 and 5-2, but battled back to force a tiebreaker. She ultimately lost that tiebreaker 7-2, but getting to it showed well for UNM. Likewise, for No. 1 singles, Bente Vandeputte lost her opening set 6-1 but battled Veronika Kliuch, falling 7-5 in the second set.
UNLV’s other point came from No. 5 singles, where Kaho Oyama beat Lea Malazdra 6-1, 6-4. Vianca Corley at No. 2 singles was down 6-4, 4-4 when the match was abandoned.
The Lobos are right back in action on Sunday, taking on Nevada at 11 a.m., most likely indoors in the Randy Briggs Tennis Bubbles.