by Steven Fernandez
Daily Lobo
Former UNM tennis player Maja Kovacek put an exclamation point on a stellar year for UNM student athletes.
Kovacek, a standout on the women's tennis team during her four-year career, was named the Mountain West Conference Female Student Athlete of the Year on June 29.
Kovacek said she was surprised and happy to receive the award.
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"I'm really excited," Kovacek said. "I really did not expect it, knowing how big of an award it is and how many people compete for it. I'm really thrilled to get it."
Kovacek became the first woman from UNM to receive the award in the history of the MWC. In addition to the honor, Kovacek will receive a $2,500 post-graduate scholarship.
In her four years as a Lobo, Kovacek built a legacy as one of the best women's tennis players in UNM history. She was put in the spotlight early, becoming the team's No. 1 singles player as a freshman while leading the Lobos in singles victories with 23. That year she was named to the All-MWC Academic Team.
Kovacek had her breakout year as a sophomore, competing at the ITA National Championships in singles and doubles competition. She ended the fall semester ranked No. 10 in the Central Region in singles, and she teamed with Sandy Lukowski to become the No. 1-ranked doubles team in the region.
During her junior and senior seasons, Kovacek partnered with Iva Gersic to become one of the best tandems in the country. Kovacek ended her senior season ranked No. 31 in the nation in singles, while she and Gersic were the No. 4-ranked doubles team in the country. Kovacek became the only two-time All-American in UNM women's tennis history.
In addition to her success on the court, she was able to maintain a cumulative GPA above 3.5 while double majoring in psychology and sociology. She made the All-MWC Academic Team every year at UNM, and she won the Arthur Ashe Award for Sportsmanship and Leadership - one of eight winners in the Central Region.
Kovacek said she is glad her accomplishments did not go unnoticed.
"That's why it means so much," Kovacek said. "All through my four years, I tried really hard both on the tennis court and in school to do really well. This kind of recognizes my efforts."
UNM women's tennis head coach Kathy Kolankiewicz said she is excited Kovacek was given such a prestigious honor.
"It's an awesome award," Kolankiewicz said. "We're just so proud of Maja. It's such an honor, and she's very, very deserving."
Kovacek's season highlighted a successful year for UNM student athletes across the board. The school set a record for highest combined GPA in spring 2006 with a 3.08.
Kovacek said she always put her academic achievements high on her priority list. She said although tennis was a major part of her life, she understood how crucial it was to be a hard-working student in addition to being a successful athlete.
"To me, it's pretty important, because I always saw it as my job to do well in both of those areas," Kovacek said.
Kolankiewicz said she is proud to have coached Kovacek and is amazed at the success she had during her four years as a Lobo.
"When I was typing up her highlights from each year, I was looking through and said, 'Wow, she's had a great career,'" Kolankiewicz said. "Every year I had a lot to write about."
