LARAMIE, Wyo. (March 27, 2019) – Wyoming Cowgirl tennis will kick off the 2019 Mountain West season this weekend in Laramie. The Cowgirls welcome the New Mexico Lobos on Friday followed by a Saturday match against the Air Force Falcons. Friday's match is scheduled for 2 p.m. MT while the following day beginning at 12 p.m. Both will take place at the UW Indoor Tennis Courts.  
       
"The team has been preparing very hard all year long and have improved drastically each day," head coach Dean Clower said. "The conference is the tightest I have ever seen it and anyone can win it. We feel the team is confident, battle tested and ready to show what we have. I am proud to be a part of this team and feel if we play our style of tennis wining will take care of itself."

The Cowgirls enter the weekend with a 10-5 record overall earning a 7-0 victory over Montana to close out non-conference action. Senior Elisa Koonik is 10-3 this spring and 13-11 overall in singles action, while freshman Maria Oreshkina is 9-5 in dual play and 15-10 overall. Junior Ana Royo has a 16-10 record followed by freshman Mihaela Kaftanova sitting at 14-10 and 7-2 this spring. Senior Tessa van Der Ploeg has an 8-6 spring mark and 14-13 overall and freshman Ana Fernandez is 11-12 overall on the year. Kaftanova and fellow freshman Ida Krause are 10-6 overall in doubles action.
       
New Mexico is currently 7-7 overall headed in to this match. This will be its conference opener. Friday's match will be the 25th meeting between the two schools. UNM leads the series 18-6. The last time the two met was April 8, 2018 with the Lobos coming out on top 4-3 in Albuquerque. The Lobos are coached by Stephanie Wooten-Quijada who is in her third season with the program.
 
Air Force is currently 18-1 overall and will play Colorado State prior to the Cowgirls. This will be the 28th meeting between the two schools. Wyoming leads the series 21-6. The last time the two met was April 6, 2018 with the Cowgirls coming out on top 4-3 in Colorado Springs. Air Force is coached by Kim Gidley who is in her 20th season with the program.