by Brandon Call
Daily Lobo
After climbing into the top 40, the Lobos will get a chance to show off their talent at home.
For the first time since last spring, the No. 38 women's tennis team will play at the UNM Tennis Complex against Northern Arizona today and against Marquette on Sunday.
"It excites the players just to be able to play at home," said head coach Kathy Kolankiewicz. "Having their friends come out and some family watching, it's a real advantage. Since we didn't host a fall invite this year, it will be the first time playing at home since April."
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
UNM is coming off a two-week hiatus, as the Lobos last defeated 50th-ranked Texas Tech in Lubbock, Texas, on Feb. 4.
Kolankiewicz said the team cannot underestimate its opponents this weekend.
"Even though we are playing two teams this weekend that are unranked, we're very excited for the matchups," she said. "We need to be prepared and expect a tough match and not take these teams lightly."
NAU is 3-5 on the season, coming off a 4-3 win over Mountain West Conference member Wyoming on Sunday.
NAU also fields the strongest Lumberjack team that Kolankiewicz has faced in her 21-year career at UNM, she said.
"They're a much improved program," she said. "This is probably the strongest team that we have faced against NAU. We saw them at a fall tournament, but we expect them to push us at every single position."
UNM is the sixth ranked team Marquette will face this season. The Golden Eagles are 0-5 in those matchups and 1-7 on
the season.
Kolankiewicz said the team is looking forward to a rematch with Marquette.
"We played Marquette last year, and we beat them 6-1 in Milwaukee," she said. "They have most of their same players back. I think we'll have more of an advantage playing them here in Albuquerque, which will
be nice."
Women's tennis vs. NAU
Today, 6 p.m.
UNM Tennis Complex
