The UNM men's tennis team hits the courts for its last home matches of the season this weekend in what will also be the final home matches for three UNM seniors - Andrew Irving, Takeshi Itoh and Kyle Russell.
Itoh, who plays at the number one position, and Irving, who has played in the number three through number six positions this season, have helped to guide the Lobos' recent success.
Against the University of Nevada at Las Vegas last weekend, Irving beat Artin Tafazoli at the number four position to help the Lobos beat the 36th-ranked Rebels 4-2. With Itoh's loss to Ninad Zivkovic, Irving's win became all the more significant. Additionally, Russell and Diego Garza, who compete in the number three doubles position, have won four straight doubles matches to further supplement the team.
Irving is 12-7 this spring, and said he is proud of what he and the fellow seniors have accomplished.
"We've done a lot this year," Irving said. "Takeshi played well in the fall and played well this spring. Kyle's only in for doubles, but his support and energy is great to have. The big difference from last year is that it's been good to have the seniors step up."
UNM head coach Alan Dils said the trio has played to expectations.
"That's what you expect from seniors - a strong effort every time out," Dils said. "You expect them to play to the best of their ability and I think we're getting it."
Itoh, who also dropped a singles match against San Diego State University last weekend, is 13-5 but remains upbeat despite his recent skid.
"I just played against good players," Itoh said. "At this level it can go either way. I'm not happy that I lost the matches. I have to just look for the next one."
Itoh said that even though the Lobos dropped their first and only Mountain West Conference match - 4-3 to 56th-ranked San Diego State - he is assured that the team can easily bounce back.
"We played really well, and though we lost the match we were two points away from winning," Itoh said. "We were a little disappointed but we're not down or anything."
In ascending to the number one position this year, after playing much of last year at number three, Itoh replaced arguably the best men's tennis player the UNM program has ever seen. Matt Amgwerd was an All-American singles player, an academic All-American, the Mountain West Male Student-Athlete of the Year and possessed the highest ranking ever for a Lobo at number six in the nation. Amgwerd went 34-7 last fall and spring, while Itoh is not far behind with his combined 19-8 record this year. Still, Itoh said he was a bit uncertain coming into this year.
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"After last year I wasn't sure where I was going to play," Itoh said. "At the beginning of the fall I still didn`t have any idea. I happened to have a good tournament at the end of fall and that got me the position."
Friday, UNM faces the University of Louisiana at Lafayette at 3 p.m. at the Lobo Tennis Club. The Lobos beat the Ragin' Cajuns 4-2 in Corpus Christi, Texas, March 11. In that match the Lobos dropped the doubles point, making both Irving and Itoh's singles wins instrumental.
"We played Louisiana-Lafayette during the Spring Break and we beat them, but it was tough," Itoh said. "They'll probably try to get their revenge on us."
Then on Sunday at noon, it's the annual I-25 battle between the Lobos and New Mexico State University. Itoh said the team would have no trouble gearing up to play the Aggies.
"We lost to them last year and, of course, we want to beat them," Itoh said. "So everybody's going to be fired up for that."
So with the trio of seniors' final home match looming, Itoh said he probably would not feel too different while walking out onto the court. But Dils, who will lose his number one player for the second time in as many years, doesn't feel the same way.
"I hate to lose Takeshi," Dils said. "He's worked so hard - everybody's worked hard - but there's a good guy-works so hard, puts effort into it, it's the way things should be. It legitimizes the hard work and good guy theory."
Irving said that the thought of playing his last match as a Lobo would not change his approach to preparing.
"It didn't really dawn on me until yesterday since we've been travelling," Irving said. "It might be different for Kyle or Takeshi, since they've been here four years. I've only been here two, but I did grow up here and it's a place that I've spent a lot of time. I'm looking forward to the matches."
Both matches are free to the public.
