March 5, 2006

MILWAUKEE - Except for a victory from Lauren Little at no. 2 singles, the Marquette women's tennis team was held winless falling to no. 37 New Mexico at the Helfaer Tennis Stadium. With the loss the Golden Eagles fall to 3-10 on the season, while the Lobos extend their win streak to seven matches.

New Mexico sailed to the doubles point and won all three matches. Junior Andrea Bukacek and sophomore Erin Watkins were upended by Iva Gersic and Lucy Scott, 8-4, at no. 3 doubles. The tandems of Little and sophomore Maria Calbeto at no. 1 doubles and juniors Dominika Dabrowski and Francina Bonnelly at no. 2 doubles were both defeated by their respective New Mexico doubles counterparts, 8-2.

"They were better than we were in doubles," said head coach Jody Bronson. "They did everything well and were extremely fundamentally sound. It's not that we didn't know what they were going to do because they played fundamentally, we just didn't respond to it."

In singles action, New Mexico won five of the six singles matches. Marquette had a bright spot this afternoon at no. 2 singles, the afternoon's most exciting and longest match, that featured a highly contested outing between Little and Ola Abou-Zekry. Little stormed out of the gate to grab the first set, 6-2, and came from behind down 5-3 to take the second set to a tiebreaker, 10-6, claiming the victory.

"Lauren turned it around from the way she played on Friday," said Bronson. "I think she recognized today that if she continues to play within herself and keeps out all other distractions, she has a great game. If she continues to play this way, she will be a very good college tennis player."

The Golden Eagles continue its nine match home stand at the Helfaer Tennis Stadium when they take on Michigan on Saturday, March 11, at 10 a.m.

Singles
1. Iva Gersic (NM) def. Maria Calbeto (MU), 6-1, 6-1
2. Lauren Little (MU) def. Ola Abou-Zekry (NM) def. 6-2, 6-7 (10-6)
3. Nora Quintal (NM) def. Erin Watkins (MU), 6-1. 6-3
4. Lucy Scott (NM) def. Dominika Dabrowski (MU), 6-1, 6-2
5. Jennifer Ryba (NM) def. Francina Bonnelly (MU), 6-2, 6-2
6. Mackenzie White (NM) def. Andrea Bukacek (MU), 6-0, 6-0

Doubles
1. Gersic/Scott (NM) def. Calbeto/Little (MU), 8-2
2. Maria Kovacek/Abou-Zekry (NM) def. Bonnelly/Dabrowski (MU), 8-2
3. Quintal/Ryba (NM) def. Bukacek/Watkins (MU), 8-4