March 19, 1998

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The 38th-ranked UNLV men's tennis team opened play at the 16-team Blue-Gray Invitational with a 5-1 win over 22nd-ranked Middle Tennessee State Thursday.

UNLV improved to 8-4 on the year while MTSU fell to 2-5. The Rebels opened the day by winning two of three doubles matches for one point. In singles UNLV won four of five matches - all in straight sets. Leading the Rebels was 71st-ranked Asaf Tishler who upset 30th-ranked David McNamara, 6-1, 6-1, at the top spot. Also winning for UNLV was Damu Bobb at No. 3, Danny Erez at No. 4 and Gregor Skorin at No. 5.

The Rebels move on to the winner's bracket and play the winner of today's match between Kansas and Auburn on Friday.

    UNLV MEN'S TENNIS RESULTSUNLV 5, MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE 1At Blue-Gray Invitational, Montgomery, Ala.March 19, 1998SINGLES-1.  Asaf Tishler (UNLV) def. David McNamara (MTSU)      6-1, 6-12.  Shane Podbury (MTSU) def. Nenad Zivkovic (UNLV)     6-2, 6-13.  Damu Bobb (UNLV) def. Julius Robberts (MTSU)        7-6, 7-5    4.  Danny Erez (UNLV) def. Marshall Brown (MTSU)        6-4, 6-2    5.  Gregor Skorin (UNLV) def. Stephane Floricien (MTSU) 6-4, 6-46.  Cancelled DOUBLES-1.  Zivkovic/Skorin (UNLV) def. Floricien/Brown (MTSU)      8-5 2.  Tishler/Erez (UNLV) def. Robberts/Matt Walker           8-23.  McNamara/Mark Pellerin (MTSU) def. Bobb/Skorin (UNLV)   8-3