Air Force Academy
New Mexico (MWC Championships)
Falcons fall to UNM at MWC Women's Tennis Championship
4/25/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
April 25, 2002
No. 55 New Mexico opened the 2002 Mountain West Conference women's tennis championships Thursday with a 4-1 victory over Air Force. UNM advances to the semifinals, while Air Force drops to the consolation bracket.
Air Force, seeded sixth at the tournament, played extremely well in doubles, surprising the ranked Lobos with victories at the Nos. 1 and 2 positions. Brooke Parsons and Laura Nigro, who were selected to the All-MWC team yesterday, opened the team match with an 8-5 victory over Sandy Lukowski and Tiffany Robertson. AFA's Heather Shelby and Gina Black clinched the doubles point with an 8-6 triumph over Tjasa Suvak and Rachel Hatley at the No. 2 spot. UNM's Maria Ruiz-Fabreaga and Regula Comtesse won the No. 3 match, 8-3, over Kelli O'Bryant and Ashley Gee.
The third-seeded Lobos came back strong in singles play, picking up wins at the number two three, five and six positions for the final 4-1 win. Hatley picked up UNM's first point with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Black at the No. 5 position. Lukowski, Michelle Heidbrink and Courtney Choate also won in straight sets to clinch New Mexico's victory.
New Mexico will play UNLV in the semifinals on Friday, due to UNLV's 4-0 victory over Colorado State. Air Force will take on CSU in the consolation bracket, beginning at 11 a.m. MT.
(3) New Mexico 4, (6) Air Force 1
First Round - MWC Championships
Singles
1. Tjasa Suvak (UNM) vs. Brooke Parsons (AF) Did not finish
2. Sandy Lukowski (UNM) def. Laura Nigro (AF) 6-3, 6-2
3. Michelle Heidbrink (UNM) def. Heather Shelby (AF) 6-1, 6-4
4. Tiffany Robertson (UNM) vs. Kelli O'Bryant (AF) Did not finish
5. Rachel Hatley (UNM) def. Gina Black (AF) 6-2, 6-1
6. Courtney Choate (UNM) def. Ashley Gee (AF) 6-4, 6-1
Doubles
1. Parsons/Nigro (AF) def. Lukowski/Robertson (UNM) 8-5
2. Shelby/Black (AF) def. Suvak/Hatley (UNM) 8-6
3. Ruiz-Fabrega/Comtesse (UNM) def. Gee/O'Bryant (AF) 8-3
