Sophomores Sandy Lukowski and Tjasa Suvak started the season in impressive fashion and helped the UNM women's tennis team to a successful showing in the Coors Light Lobo Invite during the weekend.
The Lobos combined for a 29-17 record in the doubles and singles draw. The tournament does not keep team records, only individual scores with back draws.
"It was a great weekend," head coach Kathy Kolankiewicz said. "I thought the conditioning we have been doing the first month really helped us. We looked in really good shape. It paid off for us here."
Lukowski and Suvak placed second and third in the singles draw, while Lukowski also played with a teammate to finish in third place in doubles.
The Lobo players faced players from Illinois State University, Air Force Academy and Northern Arizona University in one big draw for singles and doubles in the three-day tournament.
"It was a good event for us," Kolankiewicz said. "It was just about the right competition to show where we are for our first tournament of the year."
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Sunday, Suvak handily defeated Illinois State's Alesia Mikalayvea 6-1, 6-1 in the third place match, while Lukowski struggled with unforced errors to lose 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) to the Redbirds' Liina Suuvarik in the championship.
Lukowski breezed through the first three rounds, not losing one set, in earning a spot in the championship singles match. She faced off against Suuvarik, who a day earlier defeated Suvak in the semifinals 6-3, 6-0.
Both players showed off powerful groundstrokes, with each running from baseline to baseline to return shots. The entertaining match was tied at three games apiece in the first set when Lukowski started hitting unforced errors. She struggled to keep the ball in play, often overhitting the ball out of bounds. With Lukowski frustrated, Suuvarik took advantage and won the next three games in decisive fashion to win the first set 6-3.
Lukowski got her game together early in the second set, storming out to a 3-0 lead.
"I thought she was a much better player than me at first, and then after I realized, well I can hang in," she said. "Then I started going for my shots."
However, the momentum would not last because she started hitting the ball into the net numerous times. Her opponent used the errors and fought back to a 4-all tie. The rest of the set was close as Lukowski continued to struggle, but she used well placed serves to stay in the match. With the set tied at six going into the tiebreaker, Lukowski's inconsistencies came back to haunt her as Suuvarik burst out to a 3-0 lead and went on to win 7-3.
"It was very close; just a matter of a couple of points here and there," Lukowski said. "I missed some balls I should not have missed. I guess I need to work on my backhand return."
Lukowski said the good tournament she had and the hard-fought title loss will help her for future matches.
"It gives me confidence," she said. "It was a good tournament overall. I had some good wins and every match you play gives you more confidence."
Lukowski also had success in the doubles draw as she teamed up with senior Courtney Choate to reach the semifinals Saturday before losing. They were set to play against teammates Michelle Heidbrink and Maria Ruiz-Fabrega for third place, but the match never took place.
Suvak showed why she is ranked 20th in the Central region, using a variety of shots to oust Mikalayvea in straight sets.
Although she was considered a favorite to win the singles tournament, Suvak said she thought she played well this early in the year.
"I had some ups and downs, a couple of third sets," she said. "But in general, I am pretty satisfied with the way I'm playing my game."
Freshman Regula Cometesse had an impressive debut as a Lobo winning three of her four singles matches and her final match Sunday when she was up 6-0 and her opponent had to retire after an injury.
The Lobos next competition is Oct. 12 when they compete in the Houston Fall Invite.
