Texas Tech Athletics
New Mexico
Red Raiders Upset No. 68 New Mexico, 4-3
March 21, 2004 | Men's Tennis
March 21, 2004
LUBBOCK, Texas - It was a tough day on the courts as the Red Raiders battled the New Mexico Lobos at the McLeod Tennis Center. Tech came out victorious as it knocked off No. 68 New Mexico. The Raiders took the doubles point, but the match came down to the wire at the No. 1 position. Tech junior Jakob Paulsen sealed a team victory with a stunning upset win over No. 22 Divan Coetzee.
In doubles action, Tech took two out of three matches to grab the doubles point. Tech's only doubles loss came at the first position with Paulsen and freshman Bojan Szumanski losing to David Kowalski and Ryan Stotland, 9-8. In the second position, junior Esat Tanik and freshman Rodney Vickers knocked off Hiroud Akhavan and Divan Coetzee, 9-8, while freshman Teddy DiBlasi and junior Michael Innerebner took care of Henry Gers and Jasmin Hodzic, 8-4, at the third position.
In singles action, Tech was tied with New Mexico, 3-3, when the match came down to the battle between Paulsen and No. 22 Coetzee at the first position in the very last match. Tech was down 5-3 in the third, and it was triple match point. Paulsen found a way to battle back and pulled the upset against Coetzee, 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, in a truly amazing match.
At the second position in singles, Szumanski was defeated by Kowalski, 6-3, 6-3. In the third position Tanik knocked off Stotland, 6-0, 6-3, while Innerebner ousted Akhavan, 6-4, 6-7, 6-4, in the fourth position. In the fifth position, freshman Dimitrio Martinez lost to Gers, 6-2, 2-6, 1-6, and Vickers was defeated by Hodzic, 6-2, 2-6, 4-6, in the sixth position to round out singles play.
"It was just an incredible team effort," said head coach Tim Siegel. "Michael (Innerebner) and Jakob (Paulsen), I'm so proud of those two guys. Jakob grew up a lot today. Somehow Jakob found a way to win his match, and it was an incredible college tennis match. I'm just so proud of these guys."
The Red Raiders will travel to Waco, Texas on Sat., March 27, to start Big 12 Conference play.
Results listed below:
Singles:
No. 1 Jakob Paulsen (TTU) def. No. 22 Divan Coetzee (NM), 7-6, 4-6, 7-6
No. 2 David Kowalski (NM) def. Bojan Szumanski (TTU), 6-3, 6-3
No. 3 Esat Tanik (TTU) def. Ryan Stotland (NM), 6-0, 6-3
No. 4 Michael Innerebner (TTU) def. Hiroud Akhavan (NM), 6-4, 6-7, 6-4
No. 5 Henry Gers (NM) def. Dimitrio Martinez (TTU), 6-2, 2-6, 1-6
No. 6 Jasmin Hodzic (NM) def. Rodney Vickers (TTU), 6-2, 2-6, 4-6
Doubles:
No. 1 David Kowalski / Ryan Stotland (NM) def. Jakob Paulsen / Bojan Szumanski (TTU), 9-8
No. 2 Esat Tanik / Rodney Vickers (TTU) def. Hiroud Akhavan / Divan Coetzee (NM), 9-8
No. 3 Teddy DiBlasi / Michael Innerebner (TTU) def. Henry Gers / Jasmin Hodzic (NM), 8-4
