Even though tennis is primarily a spring sport, this fall the UNM women's team is showing a promising season is in store.
Sunday, for the first time ever, a Lobo women's doubles team swept the ITA Central Region Championships. And Monday the regional tennis committee invited UNM, and only three other teams, to compete at the Regional Playoffs in Salt Lake City this weekend.
The duo of senior Sandy Lukowski and sophomore Maja Kovacek went into the ITA Central Region Championship on Friday as the No. 6 seed - but left the tournament Sunday as No. 1.
Remaining undefeated, Lukowski and Kovacek qualified for the 2003 ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor championships at the University of Michigan on Nov. 6-8.
Out of 320 Division I schools, only 16 doubles teams can qualify for the national indoor tournament. Lukowski said earning a spot in the championship was an incredible accomplishment, but she wasn't surprised they qualified.
"The first time we stepped out on the court, I had this gut feeling and I looked at Maja and said 'We're going to win this thing,'" Lukowski said. "I knew we would do well because leading up to the tournament we had some really good practices."
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Lukowski and Kovacek became a pair last season and finished with a record of 9-4.
"We thought their game styles matched pretty well," head coach Kathy Kolankiewicz said. "Their games and their personalities complement each other. That stuff is very important when you're matching up individuals in a doubles situation."
Kolankiewicz said the two women have some similarities in their playing style, but that it is good for one partner to move and set up shots, while the other closes in and attempts to score.
"In a typical point, Maja is hitting a good set-up shot for Sandy," Kolankiewicz said. "Don't get me wrong, Maja's put her fair share of balls away, but Sandy is probably a little more comfortable at the net at this point, so it works out well."
At Saturday's regional playoffs, Kovacek and Lukowski will play the University of Oklahoma, which was seeded No. 2 at the regional tournament the Lobos won. Kolankiewicz said this is a great way for the duo to prepare for nationals the following week in Michigan.
"This team from Oklahoma, they're No. 1 doubles team is a very solid team," she said. "That in itself is great preparation for them."
Oklahoma is the 36th best team in the nation, while UNM is 54th. Kolankiewicz said the Lobos will have to play their best to beat the Sooners.
"I feel like it's going to be a good match," she said. "We match up pretty evenly, but in order for us to win we all must play very well."
Neither coaches, nor the players, know who they will face at the championships in Michigan.
Lukowski said the tournament committee picks opponents randomly, but she is not intimidated by not knowing who she and her partner will face.
"We warm up and we can tell right away where their weak points are," she said. "I like not knowing who I'm playing. I just like to go out there and play without any thoughts in my head."
Lukowski said the team will leave Friday for Salt Lake City.
Kovacek, Lukowski and Kolankiewicz will depart Nov. 5 for Ann Arbor, Mich.
