Colorado University Athletics
MEN?S TENNIS FALLS AT NO. 56 NEW MEXICO, 6-1
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The No. 56 New Mexico men’s tennis team (4-1) rebounded from a disappointing loss Friday with a solid 6-1 win over the Colorado Buffaloes in Albuquerque, Sunday morning.
The Buffaloes went 0-2 on their trip through the southwestern United States, also fell to No. 34 Boise State, 5-2, Saturday in a match hosted by New Mexico. It’s the fifth straight loss for CU (4-5), all to nationally ranked teams.
Sophomore Marko Bundalo claimed the lone CU point taking a straight-set winner at No. 3 singles over Hiroud Arkhavan, 6-2, 7-5.
“Give New Mexico credit, they came out and played very well,” said CU head coach Sam Winterbotham. “The big key is the doubles point. We didn’t play very well and now we’ll turn our attention to Nebraska next Saturday.”
The Lobos took an early 1-0 lead claiming the double point with all three victories. Ryan Stotland and David Kowalski opened through their doubles match at No. 1 to win 8-4 over Marcos Digliodo and Chad Tsuda. Senior Jasmin Hodzic and sophomore Henry Gers clinched the doubles point at No. 3, beating Bundalo and Elliott Quibell, 8-5. The No. 2 duo of senior Divan Coetzee and freshman Hiroud Akhavan completed the doubles sweep, rallying from a 3-1 deficit to win 9-7 over Peter Bjork and Marek Dvorak.
In singles, Kowalski and Stotland jumped out to quick singles wins, leaving the Lobos needing one more point for the win. Kowalski netted a 6-0, 6-2 win at No. 2 over Bjork while Stotland downed Dvorak, 6-3, 6-3 at No. 4. Sealing the win, Hodzic earned a 6-4, 6-1 win over Tsuda at No. 5. At No. 1 singles, Coetzee won his fifth straight at No. 1, beating Digliodo 6-3, 6-1. Sophomore Nick Ames battled for the 6-4, 6-4 win at No. 6 over Quibell.
Colorado returns to Big 12 Conference play this Saturday, March 6 at 1 p.m. Weather permitting, the match will be played at the brand new CU-Boulder South Campus Tennis Courts.
New Mexico 6, Colorado 1
New Mexico (4-1), Colorado (4-5)
Doubles
1. Kowalski/Stotland d. Digliodo / Tsuda 8-4
2. Coetzee/Akhavan d. Bjork / Dvorak 9-7
3. Gers/Hodzic d. Quibell / Bundalo 8-5
Singles
1. Divan Coetzee d. Marcos Digliodo 6-3, 6-1
2. David Kowalski d. Peter Bjork 6-0, 6-2
3. Marko Bundalo d. Hiroud Akhavan 6-2, 7-5
4. Ryan Stotland d. Marek Dvorak 6-3, 6-3
5. Jasmin Hodzic d. Chad Tsuda 6-4, 6-1
6. Nick Ames d. Elliot Quibell 6-4, 6-4