May 14, 1998

LAS VEGAS - UNLV's Nenad Zivkovic won by injury default after three grueling sets to clinch his team's 4-3 win over Fresno State in the first round of the NCAA men's tennis regional on the campus of UNLV Thursday.

The Rebels (12-10), ranked 47th, lost the doubles point to begin the day but won four of the six singles matches against the 31st-ranked and fourth-seeded Bulldogs (15-11).

Also winning for UNLV were Damu Bobb, Danny Erez and Brandon Fallon. With the score tied at three, Zivkovic battled Olivier Le Jeune for more than three hours. Both players required medical assistance from athletic trainers during the match because of dehydration. With the score even at 7-6, 6-7, 3-3, Le Jeune suddenly collapsed and was forced to withdraw. He was taken to a local hospital via ambulance With the dramatic victory, UNLV advances to Friday's semifinal against top-seeded and 9th-ranked Pepperdine.

"I always tell the guys that if they keep fighting, then that's all I can ask for," UNLV Head Coach Larry Easley said. "That's what happened today and it turned out for the best. For Nenad to keep fighting the entire time, including being down 3-0 in the final set, shows a lot about his character. He was very impressive for a freshman."

Easley said the fifth-seeded Rebels have an even tougher task in what is their fourth-straight regional semifinals.

"Today, we were even with Fresno State and somebody just took it at the end," Easley said. "Pepperdine is a whole different story. They are the class of the field and we have nothing to lose against them."

1998 NCAA REGION VII MEN'S TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP--QUARTERFINALSUNLV 4, FRESNO STATE 3At Fertitta Tennis Complex, Las Vegas
SINGLES-1.  Peter Luczak (FS) def. Asaf Tishler (UNLV)          6-4, 6-32.  Nenad Zivkovic (UNLV) def. Olivier Le Jeune (FS)        By injury default3.  Damu Bobb (UNLV) def. Andy Scorteanu (FS)           6-2, 4-6, 6-34.  Danny Erez (UNLV) def. P.J. Dormire (FS)            6-1, 6-35.  Rob Cheyne (FS) def. Gregor Skorin (UNLV)           5-7, 6-2, 6-3 6.  Brandon Fallon (UNLV) def. Kevin Vieira (FS)            6-3, 7-5
DOUBLES-1.  Zivkovic/Skorin (UNLV) vs. Le Jeune/Dormire (FS)        Halted2.  Luczak/Scorteanu (FS) def. Tishler/Erez (UNLV)          8-53.  David Mullins/Vieira (FS) def. Bobb/Andy Tapernoux (UNLV)   8-3