The UNM women's tennis team bounces back home to the Lobo Tennis Club this weekend to take on the University of Denver Pioneers and the University of Kansas Jayhawks.
The Lobos were on the road last week, dropping matches to 40th ranked Washington State and No. 57 Boise State, 5-2 and 4-3 respectively.
Leading the way for UNM were the No. 1 and No. 2 singles players Maja Kovacek and Tjasa Suvak. The two went a combined 4-0 in singles competition last week.
Kovacek, a freshman who hails from the Czech Republic, has been outstanding all year, posting an 11-1 record in the fall and a 3-1 mark thus far in the spring season.
"Being number one feels good," Kovacek said. "I think I can handle the pressure. It motivates me because I know I have to do very well in every practice and every match."
Suvak, a junior, has also played well, beating Jemima Hayward of BSU, 7-5, 4-6, 6-1 on Feb. 14. The next day, she beat 79th ranked Lorene Arias, 7-6, 6-4.
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With the top players are winning their matches of late, it has been the lower seeds that have struggled. No. 3 singles player Michelle Heidbrink lost both of her matches last weekend, as did Tiffany Robertson at No. 4. In fact, the Lobos were winless at the No. 3-6 singles spots last week.
"To us, it doesn't matter if it's the top or bottom half winning," head coach Kathy Kolankiewicz said. "A point is worth a point whether you're playing one or six."
Recently inserted into singles competition, junior Maria Ruiz-Fabrega has taken over the fifth position. Listed at 5-feet-2-inches, Ruiz-Fabrega has learned to use her small size as an advantage in competition.
"What I lack in height, I make up with speed," Ruiz-Fabrega said. "Being lower to the ground gives you a better center of gravity."
Rachel Hatley rounds out the top six players for the Lobos at the No. 6 spot. Hatley is the lone senior on the team and has tried to help guide her young teammates to victory.
"It's my last year and I want to go out strong," Hatley said.
Today, UNM welcomes a Denver team that it had success against in the fall season. They went 4-1 against the Pioneers at the Colorado Invitational in October. However, head coach Kathy Kolankiewicz is not overlooking the University of Denver.
"They are an incredibly improved team," Kolankiewicz said. "I expect a very good match and if we're not close to 100 percent we're not going to win the match."
On Sunday, UNM plays host to a talented Kansas team that has already defeated two MWC squads this year -- Utah and BYU. The Jayhawks are a team to be feared after finishing the Central Region last year in first place.
"They (Kansas) are ranked a good 15 to 20 spots ahead of us in the ranking," Kolankiewicz said. "We feel we have a good shot at beating them at home."
The Lobos get started today at the newly renovated Tennis Club against Denver, at 5 p.m. On Sunday, they take on Kansas at noon. Admission is free.
