The No. 64 UNM women's tennis team snapped a two-match losing streak with two wins at home this weekend.
The Lobos defeated Boise State and Western Michigan to improve to 5-4 on the season.
"We came back from Louisiana, and especially with that second loss, and I told the team, 'We need to have a good two weeks of practice,'" head coach Kathy Kolankiewicz said. "We did a lot more running and conditioning. I felt like we really focused and worked hard, and it's so great to see that pay off."
On Friday, the Lobos downed Boise State 5-2.
Scott said Friday's win was special for the upperclassmen.
"Everyone that was here last year felt like we owed them one from last year," she said. "There is a rivalry between us. Coming in, we were 6-1 against them. We own the series. I told the rest of the girls the only reason they won last year was because Iva (Gersic) got hurt."
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
The Broncos jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead after sweeping doubles 3-0.
"They've got really good doubles," Scott said. "I think before the match started, we knew it would come down to singles."
The Lobos responded with five-of-six singles wins.
Junior Mackenzie White had the Lobos' only loss in singles. White dropped a 6-3, 6-4 match to BSU's Polina Kokoulina at the No. 3 spot.
"To get those first four matches is really great," Kolankiewicz said. "It's a huge confidence boost for us, knowing we can respond so well from doubles."
UNM again came from behind to beat Western Michigan on Sunday, 6-1.
Again, the Lobos had trouble in doubles, falling 2-1.
Scott and sophomore Sandra Zmak defeated Ashley Moccia and Noriko Saruta 8-3 at the No. 1 spot for UNM's lone doubles win on the weekend.
"Doubles is something that we're continually working on," Kolankiewicz said. "We're going to be trying out some new combinations. We've won three doubles points out of nine matches that we've played, and that's a concern. As a team, we'll continue to work on it."
The Lobos then swept singles play, winning all six matches.
Kolankiewicz said UNM again relied on its strong singles play for the win.
"I think our doubles is getting better," Kolankiewicz said. "But at this point, I feel that we are a better singles team. And rightfully so - singles is worth six points, and doubles is only one point."
UNM won't return home again until April 11. The Lobos travel to Kansas, Hawaii, Texas and Nevada before returning home to face Mountain West Conference foe Utah.
Kolankiewicz said the coming weeks will make or break the Lobos.
"I think the challenge with playing on the road is getting used to the intangibles," she said. "Usually, no one gets the kind of crowds that we get at home. So, that's really not a factor. But it's just about how well we adjust to the altitude and court surface. I think we've handled it pretty great so far, and we can certainly win on the road."
