by Brandon Call
Daily Lobo
With the loss of All-American Iva Gersic to an injury, junior Ola Abou-Zekry had to find a way to step up.
Since losing Gersic, Abou-Zekry has done just that by winning four of five matches at the top spot, including wins over opponents from Boise State, Kansas State, Tulsa and New Mexico State. Abou-Zekry won in straight sets against NMSU's Zeljka Juricek on Thursday to help the Lobos beat the Aggies 7-0.
Leading the team is no simple task, Abou-Zekry said.
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"Stepping up to replace Iva at No. 1 is not easy," she said. "We all miss her, but I know that she would want us to do well and continue without her."
Abou-Zekry has raised her game to compensate for the loss, head coach Kathy Kolankiewicz said.
"Ola has responded tremendously well," she said. "Not only did she successfully make the jump from No. 2 to No. 1, but she has also had to deal with the loss of her doubles partner. She has definitely stepped up for the team."
In doubles, she now teams up with junior Lucy Scott at No. 1 doubles. The tandem has a 3-2 record so far and was ranked as high as No. 49 in doubles last year. Abou-Zekry and Scott took down Nicole Fintell and Juricek 8-3 on Thursday.
Abou-Zekry said she is up to the challenge that comes with the No. 1 singles spot.
"I am just focusing on working hard and stepping up so that the team can do well," she said. "I'm just giving it my all and putting 100 percent effort in each and every match."
Abou-Zekry re-entered the national standings at No. 92 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings released Tuesday, after falling out of the rankings last month. Abou-Zekry made her national singles ranking debut in January at No. 62 after posting an 11-2 record during the fall season.
The Lobos face No. 48 Sacramento State on Saturday. UNM will also take on No. 28 University of California-Irvine, No. 15 Virginia Commonwealth and No. 24 Pepperdine in the coming weeks.
The team's upcoming matches against several ranked teams will benefit Abou-Zekry, Kolankiewicz said.
"We have a really tough schedule coming up," she said. "She'll be playing competitors that are ranked above her, so she really has nothing to lose and everything to gain."
Kolankiewicz said she expects great things of the junior during the team's conference schedule.
"Our conference is solid," she said. "I think she is right there with the other No. 1 players in our conference. There are a few that are ranked higher than she is, but as far as talent, she is right there with them. "
And Abou-Zekry isn't backing down from the chance to vault herself in the rankings, Kolankiewicz said.
"We set some goals for the beginning of the year for Ola," she said. "Those goals are what she wants to accomplish as an individual and a team. She has some high goals for herself. She is definitely going to have the opportunities to reach those goals."
Women's tennis vs. Sacramento State
Saturday, 11 a.m.
UNM Tennis Complex
