Arizona women's tennis defeated the New Mexico Lobos 5-2 in a dual match at home yesterday, improving its record to 3-1.
The Wildcats had to come back in a few of their matches, but eventually the team's depth and perseverance were too much for New Mexico (2-2) to overcome.
"A lot of our girls got behind fast and had to scramble back," said head coach Vicky Maes
In the longest match of the day, junior Diane Hollands, playing in the No. 1 singles slot, won in three sets, 6-2, 6-7 (9-7), 6-1 to push her record to 3-1 this season. Hollands, ranked No. 28, won the first set easily, but lost the second set, despite coming back from 6-1 in the tiebreak. In the third set, Hollands dominated UNM's Iva Gersic with cross-court winners and hard volleys. Gersic tried to control the game, hitting lob shots in an attempt to force Hollands to make unforced errors.
"She got used to the shots I was hitting," said Hollands. "She got into a rhythm in the second set."
It didn't work in the third set, as Hollands hit winner after winner, finishing off Gersic while losing only one game.
"I like the way she kept her composure and kept fighting," said Maes. "She was more relaxed at the beginning of the third set than she was in the second. I think that helped her get a new start, and she never looked back."
With Arizona leading 3-2, junior Maja Mlakar beat Maja Kovacek in three sets, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. Mlakar's win clinched that match for the Wildcats, and moved her season record to 2-2.
Junior Kelly Perry remained undefeated by beating Tjasa Suvak, 6-0, 6-3, to become 3-0.
Arizona also won two out of three doubles matches, with the team of Mlakar and Hollands and the team of Iza Ferreira and Jessie Rochfort each winning.
"There was still a lot of inconsistency that I would like to see eliminated, but as far as effort goes, I feel like everyone gave a really good effort, and that's all that I can ask for," said Maes.z