The UNM women's tennis team will open its season in Las Vegas, Nev., at the annual UNLV Women's Tennis Fall Invitational this weekend.
Head coach Kathy Kolankiewicz said the invitational will be especially competitive because all six of the participating teams were nationally ranked last year. Oklahoma State (25), the University of Alabama (30), UNLV (34), the University of San Diego (45) and Northern Arizona University (74) will be in attendance. In May of 2003, the NCAA ranked UNM as the 54th best team in the nation.
Nine women will represent the Lobos in the tournament. There will be three rounds of singles and two rounds of doubles competition.
Kolankiewicz said she is taking eight singles and four doubles teams. She said she usually takes eight players on road tournaments, but had to make an exception this time.
"The only reason we're taking nine, is one of our players recently had foot surgery and she will be playing doubles only," Kolankiewicz said.
Junior Tiffany Robertson of New Zealand is nearly recovered from the operation, but is not quite 100 percent healed. In order to keep the team balanced, freshman Allison Davis will participate in singles play only.
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Freshmen Nora Quintal and Iva Gersic, sophomore Maja Kovacek, junior Michelle Heidbrink and seniors Sandy Lukowski, Maria Ruiz-Fabrega and Tjasa Suvak will participate in singles and doubles competitions.
Kolankiewicz said the squad may have some spare time for fun in between matches - or perhaps a celebration after the tournament.
"Vegas is always a fun trip," she said. "But our number one goal is to play well."
Kolankiewicz said she is looking to the three seniors to lead the team in this weekend's tournament. She has an optimistic outlook on the upcoming season.
"I feel that this could be our best team ever," she said. "Whether we live up to that or not is yet to be determined."
Kolankiewicz is in her 18th year as head coach of the tennis team.
She said what makes the team so strong is a combination of experienced upper classman and a strong, talented group of freshmen.
