North Texas Daily

Alex Lessard | Associate Sports Editor

@alexjlessard

In the second of five consecutive matches at home, Mean Green tennis fell 4-3 against No. 45 University of New Mexico. The match was pushed back to 7 p.m. and relocated to Bent Tree Country Club in Dallas due to inclement weather, lasting until the early morning hours to determine a winner.

North Texas (6-8) started the night off by relinquishing the doubles point. The freshman duo of Maria Kononova and Tamuna Kutubidze dropped the first point 6-4, and the Mean Green couldn’t outlast the Lobos (7-5) in the following two points, falling behind 5-3 in an unfinished second round and losing the third 6-2.

The momentum shifted once singles play began, starting with a 6-3, 6-2 defeat by Kononova over No. 115 Andrea LeBlanc. It was the second time this year the freshman downed a ranked opponent.

The Mean Green fed off her performance in the next two matches. Kutubidze came out on top 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 in the second slot, and senior Anastasiya Shestakova won in straight sets, 6-4, 6-1.

The next three singles slots did not go nearly as well. Senior Agustina Valenzuela had an opportunity to give North Texas the win from the No. 4 spot but fell in straight sets. The Mean Green continued to fight on the back of junior Alexis Thoma, but after winning the first set, the Frisco native couldn’t edge out her opponent.

With things tied up at 3-3, the fate of North Texas lied with freshman Minying Liang. She ultimately fell in straight sets, 6-1, 6-3.

The Mean Green will have its chance to bounce back from its fourth loss in five matches versus the University of Louisville at 11 a.m. on Tuesday in Denton.

Featured Image: Freshman tennis player Maria Kononova swings at the ball during a singles match. Colin Mitchell | Senior Staff Photographer