USAFA, Colo. --- New Mexico snagged a doubles point and fought hard, but UNM’s injury-riddled squad couldn’t quite take down the Falcons, losing 4-2 in Colorado in a tight match. The Falcons clinched the No. 4 seed and a first-round bye in the Mountain West Tournament with the win.
The Lobos were locked into the No. 9 seed before the match started, and they will face the Wyoming Cowgirls on Wednesday, April 22, at 1 p.m. Pacific, 2 p.m. Mountain.
The Lobos were able to take a 1-0 lead through doubles, despite a makeshift lineup. UNM’s No. 2 doubles team of Sarah L/Allier and Ana Veroux lost 6-3, but UNM took the other two courts. Bente Vandeputte and Yu Yun “Kathy” Tsai won 6-4 at No. 1, and Coumba Ben Niangadou and Vivica Corley clinched the point with a 6-4 win at No. 3.
In singles, with just four courts, the Falcons took three to take a 3-2 lead. Veroux for UNM won at No. 3, 6-1, 6-3. While the Falcons took three of the first four, they had to work for it at No. 4 singles. Down 6-1, 5-4, 40-15 off serve, Marika Matsoukatidi was able to fight off three match points, doing so by staying alive with three long rallies until her opponent, Sofia Mavor, got antsy and went for the win, failing to get it each time.
However, Mavor took the third set 6-4 for a 3-2 lead. Air Force got the win when Maya Michalski won over Vivica Corley at No. 6 7-5, 7-6 (7-3).