University of Utah
No. 37 New Mexico
Utah Narrowly Defeated by New Mexico in Home Opener
2/26/2015 12:00 AM | Women's Tennis
SALT LAKE CITY - The No. 73 University of Utah women's tennis team (1-6) suffered a 4-3 loss in its home opener, falling to No. 37 New Mexico (9-2) Thursday night at the Eccles Tennis Center.
"We had a great opportunity to win a big match today," said Utah head coach Mat Iandolo. "I'm a little disappointed because we just played a little tentative and a little too careful in doubles. They were more aggressive and that allowed them to get the doubles point and gave them the momentum they needed. Because of that, we paid the price of losing the match. I'm proud of the effort, but we need to do a better job of handling big-match pressure."
The Lobos took the first lead of the match after capturing the doubles point. Dominique Dulski and Meredith Hopson defeated Sarah Richter and Luisa Gerstner Da Rosa at the second spot (6-4), before Dalina Dahlmans and Emily Olivier secured the point for the Lobos with a win over Elena Najera-Salas and Jena Cheng at No. 3 (6-3).
Utah quickly retaliated and gained a 2-1 lead after winning the top two singles matches. No. 53 Tereza Berkova handily took the No. 1 singles match from Natasha Smith (6-4, 6-2) to improve to 4-1 on the season. Following suit, Richter propelled the Utes into the lead with a victory over Hopson at the second position (6-2, 7-5).
The two teams traded points as Olivier snagged a victory for New Mexico with at win at No. 3 (6-3, 6-3), while Pletcher took the No. 6 match from Sharon Coone (6-3, 6-2).
Downing Alexia Petrovic at No. 5 (6-3, 2-6, 6-2), Rachana Bhat knotted the match at 3-3, leaving the decision to be made by the No. 4 singles match. Stretching deep into a third set, Dulski ultimately came away with the victory over da Rosa (3-6, 6-4, 6-4) to secure the team win for New Mexico.
The Utes head to Huntington, W. Va., for two matches this weekend. Utah is slated to face Penn State, Sunday at 11 a.m. ET and Marshall on Monday at 7 p.m. ET.
#37 NEW MEXICO 4, #73 UTAH 3
Doubles
- #31 Tereza Bekerova/Margo Pletcher (UTAH) vs. Sharon Coone/Natasha Smith (UNM) - 5-5, dnf.
- Dominique Dulski/Meredith Hopson (UNM) def. Luisa Gerstner da Rosa/Sarah Richter (UTAH) - 6-4
- Dalina Dahlmans/Emily Olivier (UNM) def. Jena Cheng/Elena Najera-Salas (UTAH) - 6-3
Order of Finish: 2, 3
Singles
- #53 Tereza Bekerova (UTAH) def. Natasha Smith (UNM) - 6-4, 6-2
- Sarah Richter (UTAH) def. Meredith Hopson (UMN) - 6-2, 7-5
- Emily Olivier (UNM) def. Jena Cheng (UTAH) - 6-3, 6-3
- Dominique Dulski (UNM) def. Luisa Gerstner Da Rosa (UTAH) - 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
- Rachana Bhat (UNM) def. Alexia Petrovic (UTAH) - 6-3, 2-6, 6-2
- Margo Pletcher (UTAH) def. Sharon Coone (UNM) - 6-3, 6-2
