Colorado University Athletics
MEN?S TENNIS UPSETS NO. 33 NEW MEXICO, 4-1
BOULDER ? The University of Colorado men’s tennis team successfully opened the spring season upsetting No. 33 New Mexico, 4-1, in the second semifinal match of the ITA Mountain Region Indoor Tennis Tournament, hosted by Boise State University.
The win over New Mexico is the first one over the Lobos since 1993 and only their fifth in 20 meetings against New Mexico.
The CU men turn their attention to the host and top seeded Broncos in the final today at 6 p.m. BSU defeated UNLV, 4-0 earlier in the day.
“The hard work is paying off,” said CU head coach Sam Winterbotham. “The guys came out and competed at a high level and got the best of New Mexico.”
The Buffaloes received singles win from Jan Zelezny at No. 2, followed by Peter Bjork (No. 4), Marek Dvorak (No. 5), and Chad Tsuda (No. 6).
Zelezny, an incoming freshman, was the first player off the court winning his collegiate dual match debut at No. 2 singles defeating David Kowalski, 6-2, 6-2. CU victories followed from Bjork defeating Kamil Pajkowski, 6-4, 6-0 at No. 3.
“Peter played very well and implemented the things he has worked on,” said Winterbotham. “It’s a good to get off to a good start to the season.”
CU added two more points with Dvorak defeating Eric Conklin, 6-4, 6-2 for his 10th win this season and 29th over his career, and Tsuda, a Boulder native upended Derek Boland, 6-4, 6-4. Tsuda won his 32nd of his career.
The doubles portion which accounts for one point was not played because CU earned the decisive four points during singles play.
The Colorado/Boise State winner will receive an automatic berth into the ITA National Team Indoor Championship in Chicago Feb. 17-20.
Colorado 4, New Mexico 1
Singles
1) Marko Bundalo (CU) vs. No. 122 Ryan Stotland (UNM) DNF
2) Jan Zelezny (CU) def. David Kowalski (UNM) 6-2 6-2
3) Max Jones (UNM) def. Marcos Digliodo (CU) 6-3 7-5
4) Peter Bjork (CU) def. Kamil Pajkowski (UNM) 6-4 6-0
5) Marek Dvorak (CU) def. Eric Conklin (UNM) 6-4 6-2
6) Chad Tsuda (CU) def. Derek Boland (UNM) 6-4 6-4
Doubles
1. Digiodo/Tsuda (CU) vs. Stotland/Kowalski (UNM) cancelled
2. Bundalo/Bjork (CU) vs. Pajkowski/Jones (UNM) cancelled
3. Dvorak/Zelezny (CU) vs. Conklin/Boland (UNM) cancelled