by Brandon Call
Daily Lobo
After four seniors graduated last season, the UNM women's tennis team added two international players to its 2007 lineup.
Freshmen Emma Hayman and Victoria Tessmar join the Lobos for the 2007-08 season.
Head coach Kathy Kolankiewicz said the recruits will gain experience before the upcoming spring season.
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"We're excited to have them, and they are excited to be here," she said. "They both have really nice tennis games, and I think that we are going to see improvement weekly from them."
Both players come to the Lobos with impressive tennis rÇsumÇs.
Hayman, of Wanganui, New Zealand, was a member of the Wanganui Tennis Club and competed in a club tennis team for eight weeks during the summer. Hayman has also competed in singles and doubles on the International Tennis Federation tour, considered the minor leagues of the Women's Tennis Association professional tour.
Tessmar is from Stockholm, Sweden, where she competed in club tennis with Ekerî TK. Tessmar also competed in ITF singles events as a junior.
The freshmen said they are excited to compete for the Lobos.
"I'm really enjoying being here," Hayman said. "It's a lot different than home, but I'm slowly adjusting. I love the team, and I'm just thrilled to be here."
Hayman said the biggest change for her has been the weather.
"New Mexico is a different humidity than back at home," she said. "It's a lot hotter here, too. It never rains here, and it rained a lot while I was in New Zealand."
In addition to the temperature, Tessmar will have to adjust to Albuquerque's altitude, she said.
"I live right by the sea in Sweden," Tessmar said. "It's quite a bit different how the ball moves here in New Mexico. There's more pressure, and it changes the spin a bit. But I'm getting used to it."
The change hasn't hampered the freshmen so far this season.
Earlier in the month, both players posted solid results in the Lobo Labor Day Tournament. Hayman reached the semifinals of the tournament before losing to senior teammate Lucy Scott 6-3, 3-6, 6-4. Tessmar was a round-16 loser to junior teammate Jennifer Ryba 6-4, 6-3.
Hayman said she is having fun getting used to American pop culture.
"Moving from New Zealand, it was a bit of a culture shock," she said. "It's not quite like what I expected, but it's cool. It's nice to be somewhere different and outside your comfort zone."
Tessmar said she is taking in the New Mexico cuisine around campus.
"I like green chile," she said. "It's not as hot as the red one. I also like Saggio's pizza and the burritos at Frontier. They're really good."
Hayman and Tessmar will have the opportunity to compete in the UNM Fall Invite this weekend.
Kolankiewicz said she is eager to see how they will perform in the tournament.
"There are four nationally ranked players in this year's tournament," she said. "They both have a lot of potential, and I'm excited to see how everything turns out for them."
Women's tennis hosts UNM Fall Invite
Friday, all day
UNM Tennis Club
