The UNM women's tennis team dominated the 46th-ranked Kansas University Jayhawks, 7-0, Sunday, at the Lobo Tennis Club.
The Lobos got off to a quick start, taking two of three doubles matches for the point.
The No. 1 doubles team of freshman Maja Kovacek and junior Tjasa Suvak battled gamely, but lost 8-5 to Kansas' Courtney Steinbock and Paige Brown. The Jayhawks duo streaked to a 4-0 lead but Kovacek and Suvak came back to tie the match at 4-4. They were still in the match at 5-5, but Steinbock and Brown won the next three games to take the match.
At No. 2 doubles, senior Rachel Hatley and junior Maria Ruiz-Fabrega beat the Jayhawks' Kristin Steinbock and Christin Skoda 8-5. Hatley and Ruiz-Fabrega jumped out to a 5-1 lead, but struggled to close the match. Kristin Steinbock and Skoda came as close as 6-4, but the Lobos shut the door, taking the final three games.
Sophomores Michelle Heidbrink and Tiffany Robertson cruised to an 8-4 win over Emily Haylock and Luiza Loureizo at the No. 3 spot. Heidbrink and Robertson also broke out to an early lead, going up 7-1 before KU won a couple of games and put a little pressure on the duo.
In singles, Kovacek struggled early at the No. 1 position, losing the first set 2-6. Kovacek couldn't find her serve in the set, double faulting six times. She rallied to win the remaining two sets 6-2, 6-3 for the victory.
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At No. 2 singles, Suvak took little time with Brown, defeating her handily 6-2, 6-3.
"I felt really good," Suvak said. "I stayed really focused. I tried to move her around and keep as many balls in play as I could and put some pace on it. We had a really tough match in doubles, so it was a little tough to bounce back."
Heidbrink won a hard-fought match at No. 3 over Haylock 7-6, 6-7 (10-4). The first set was even throughout the match with no player gaining more than a one-game advantage. Haylock battled back to take the second set, but could not overcome Heidbrink in the final set.
Robertson also played well in singles. She crushed Skoda 6-2, 6-4 at the No. 4 spot.
"I started off really strong and hit the ball really nicely," Robertson said. "Toward the end of the second set it got a bit scrappy, but I still came out with the win."
At the No. 5 position, Hatley also had an easy 6-1, 6-3 over Kim Lorenz.
Ruiz-Fabrega finalized the sweep with a gritty 7-5,7-5 victory over Loureizo.
"I was a little shaky, but I played with a little more confidence as the match wore on," Ruiz Fabrega said.
On Friday, the Lobos broke a two-game losing streak with a 4-3 win over Denver University.
UNM won the doubles point, as well as three singles matches to gain the hard-fought victory. The teams of Kovacek and Suvak, and Robertson and Heidbrink took two doubles matches for the point.
In singles, Kovacek, Heidbrink and Robertson earned wins for the Lobos.
UNM will head to Las Vegas, Nev., for the UNLV Spring Invite, Friday.
