The University of New Mexico got themselves in and out of a sticky situation as the Warriors (7-6) looked to pull an upset over the No. 67 Lobos (7-5). The Lobos would win the match 5-2, at the UH Tennis Complex Tuesday, but not without a hard fight by the Warriors.

Earlier in the match, New Mexico would jump to an early 1-0 lead by winning only two of the three doubles matches. Warriors Lincoln Leeder and Malino Oda would stand their ground in the No. 1 position defeating Michael Polasek and Bart Scott, 8-6.

Hawai`i would fight back in the singles portion of the competition beginning with senior Jorge Gonzalez. Gonzalez would shock New Mexico’s John Kowalski in the No. 5 position in two easy sets, 6-3, 6-1, tying the score at one a piece.

The Lobos would answer back with David Coetzee and Diego Garza closing the No. 1 and 6 positions against UH’s Regie Moralejo and Leeder. New Mexico had the game in the bag, only needing one more match to claim the victory, but too many game violations and unsportsmanlike conduct calls in the No. 4 position would give Hawai`i’s Francisco Brignole the match.

The outcome would come down to the last two matches, with the Lobos only up by a slim margin, 3-2.

Hawai`i’s Justin Menolascino and Oda would take the match to three sets before falling Polasek and Scott.

The Warriors look to get back on the winning track as they take on the US Naval Academy at the UH Tennis Complex, Friday. Matches begin at 12:00 p.m.

Head coach Jim Schwitters is four wins away from reaching his 800th Warrior victory. Schwitters currently boasts 1,254 victories (men and women) in his 36 years at UH and is the winningest coach in collegiate tennis history.



New Mexico def. Hawai`i, 5-2

Singles
David Coetzee def. Regie Moralejo (UH), 7-5, 6-0
Michael Polasek def. Justin Menolascino (UH), 7-5, 6-7, 7-6
Bart Scott def. Malino Oda (UH), 6-2, 6-7, 6-4
Francisco Brignole (UH) def. David Kowalski, 5-7, 2-3 (def)
Jorge Gonzalez (UH) def. John Kowalski, 6-3, 6-1
Diego Garza def. Lincoln Leeder (UH), 6-4, 6-3

Doubles
Leeder/Oda (UH) def. Polasek/Scott, 8-6
Brent Salazar/Ryan Stotland def.
Menolascino/Moralejo (UH), 8-6
D. Kowalski/Coetzee def. Gonzalez/Kai Ohuchi
(UH), 8-5