Colorado
New Mexico
No. 39 Tennis Defeats New Mexico, 5-2
February 07, 2009 | Tennis
EUGENE, Ore. ? A quartet of University of Colorado tennis players won their respective singles match in straight sets leading the Buffaloes to a 5-2 winner over No. 49 New Mexico, 5-2, Saturday afternoon in a non-conference match played at the University of Oregon.
It's the second win in a row for the No. 39 nationally ranked Buffaloes (4-2) and third triumph this spring over a ranked opponent. The CU women jumped 13 spots to No. 39 in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) poll released earlier in the week.
“Today we knew that we were going to have to play tough strong tennis,” said CU head coach Nicole Kenneally. “I am happy with how we worked through the doubles and then continued the momentum into the singles. We look forward to another great challenge tomorrow against Oregon.”
The win over the Lobos is a first for Kenneally in four tries and CU's first against New Mexico since 1997, breaking a five-match skid.
CU dominated the start of play sweeping the doubles portion taking all three slots. Camila Belassi and Melisa Esposito teamed up for their first win of the spring in five matches taking an 8-4 winner over the team of Abou-Zekry/Sotirchos. The visitors clinched the doubles point at the No. 3 slot as Michala Hedelund Jensen and Abbie Probert defeated Tessmar/Villanueva, 8-5. CU secured the sweep with Ania Anuszkiewicz and Franziska Jendrian edging White/Hayman, 9-7.
Jendrian inched closer to becoming the school's all-time doubles leader picking up her 68th career win, one victory behind 69 tallies set by Jessica Garrow (1997-2000).
In singles, CU jumped out quickly to a 3-0 lead as Probert and Jendrian each cruised to straight set wins at the No. 4 and No. 3 singles slots, respectively.
Probert won her fourth match in five outings sweeping Manumea Durie, 6-0, 6-1 and Jendrian tallied her 78th career singles win, defeating Emma Hayman 6-3, 6-1. Jendrian has won six of her last nine matches dating back to the fall season. Her 78th career win is seventh on the all-time singles list at CU.
New Mexico (2-4) finally scored a victory on the day taking the No. 2 slot, however, no momentum would follow as Belassi clinched the CU team victory at the No. 1 slot as she defeated MacKenzie White, 6-3, 6-2. It was Belassi's first career victory playing the No. 1 position over her three-year collegiate career and her third win in four matches.
CU added its fifth point as Hedelund Jensen cruised to a 6-4, 6-2 winner over Victoria Tessmar. Hedelund Jensen won her second match in a row, and third victory in five outings.
The Buffaloes continue the state of Oregon stay taking on the No. 58 Ducks (4-2), Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
No. 39 Colorado 5, No. 49 New Mexico 2
CU (4-2), UNM (2-4)
Feb.7, University of Oregon
1d) Belassi/Esposito (CU) def. Abou-Zekry/Sotirchos 8-4
2d) Anuszkiewicz/Jendrian (CU) def. White/Hayman 9-7
3d) Hedelund Jensen/Probert (CU) def. Tessmar/Villanueva 8-5
Order of Finish: 1, 3, 2
1s) Camila Belassi (CU) def. MacKenzie White 6-3, 6-2
2s) Ola Abou-Zekry (UNM) def. Melisa Esposito 6-3, 6-2
3s) Franziska Jendrian (CU) def. Emma Hayman 6-3, 6-1
4s) Abbie Probert (CU) def. Manumea Durie 6-0, 6-1
5s) Maria Sotirchos (UNM) def. Ania Anuszkiewicz 4-6, 7-5, 1-0(7)
6s) Michala Hedelund Jensen (CU) def. Victoria Tessmar 6-4, 6-2
Order of Finish: 4, 3, 2, 1*, 5, 6
Players Mentioned
