DENTON – The North Texas women’s tennis team put together a dominating 7-0 route over New Mexico State on Friday afternoon in Denton.

North Texas (3-6), looking to carry over momentum from a near comeback win in the last match against Washington State, took the doubles point over the Aggies (3-3) with wins at No. 1 and No. 2 and never looked back.  

“We knew we had been playing good tennis and we did a great job of finishing today,” head coach Sujay Lama said. “We were locked in from the get go and didn’t let up.” 

The Mean Green won all six singles matches, with sophomore Tamuna Kutubidze’s victory over Rebecca Keijzerwaard (6-1, 6-2) at No. 2 as the clinching the match.

“I feel very confident in everything and I really needed this win today,” Kutubidze said. “This gives me great confidence going into tomorrow and the pressure is off. Wins like this feel great.” 

Maria Kononova and Kutubidze continued their dominating run as the No. 1 doubles team, winning 6-0. The duo is 6-0 on the season. Alexis Thoma and Alexandra Heczey also made quick work at No. 2, winning 6-1. At No. 3, Minying Liang and Ivana Babic were leading 4-2 before their doubles match went unfinished. 

The Mean Green won 12 of the 13 sets in singles play and looked sharp from start-to-finish.  

“Any time that you have a really solid clean win it just builds your confidence even more,” Thoma said. “Especially with how many home matches we have. It’s nice to protect our house.”  

North Texas has little time to celebrate the victory, however, with Nevada coming to town for a match tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 p.m.

“Winning is a habit and we want to build on this win,” Lama said. “We know there are no easy matches but I want us to have the same focus, because now is the time to capitalize.” 

Up Next
North Texas faces a quick turnaround and hosts Nevada Saturday at 1:00 p.m. at the Waranch Tennis Complex.

Mean Green Quick Hits

• North Texas sophomore Maria Kononova, the No. 74 ranked ITA player, won her eighth straight singles match and improved to 8-1 on the season. It was her first win as a nationally ranked tennis player.
• North Texas’ 7-0 win is its first seven-point shutout over a Division I opponent since it beat Lamar 7-0 in February of 2013.

Results

Singles

1. Maria Kononova (NT) def. Rimpledeep Kaur (NMSU) 6-1, 6-1
2. Tamuna Kutubidze (NT) def. Rebecca Keijzerwaard (NMSU) 6-1, 6-2
3. Alexis Thoma (NT) def. Eli Arnaudova (NMSU) 6-1, 6-2
4. Alexandra Heczey (NT) def. Marie-Pier Thiffault (NMSU) 7-5, 3-6, 10-5
5. Minying Liang (NT) def. Lindsay Harlas (NMSU) 7-5, 6-1
6. Laura Arciniegas (NT) def. Fanni Novak (NMSU) 6-1, 6-1

Doubles

1. Maria Kononova/Tamuna Kutubidze (NT) def. Rimpledeep Kaur/Gabrielle Joyce (NMSU) 6-0
2. Alexis Thoma/Alexandra Heczey (NT) def. Vanessa Valdez/Rebecca Keijzerwaard (NMSU) 6-1
3. Minying Liang/Ivana Babic vs. Eli Arnaudova/Lindsay Harlas (NMSU) 4-2 unfinished