Feb. 11, 2000

PROVO, Utah - Despite playing without its No. 4 singles player, the 57th-ranked UNLV women's tennis still challenged Mountain West Conference rival BYU before falling 5-4 Friday.

The Lady Rebels fell to 3-1 on the year while the 59th-ranked Cougars improved to 2-3.

UNLV, which was playing indoors for the first time this season, was without the services of junior Britta Gabl, who sat out with an elbow injury.

"I was very proud of the way we battled against a team that plays all of its matches indoors," UNLV head coach Kevin Cory said. "We just came up one point short and we hope we get another chance at facing BYU when they come down for the conference championship (which will be played in Las Vegas)."

The Lady Rebels were doubled up in singles play, 4-2, but fought back in doubles by taking two of three points. At the top singles spot, UNLV won the battle of the league's top two players when 23rd-ranked Katarina Malec swept 22nd-ranked Eline Chiew 6-3, 6-4.

"Katarina played great from start to finish," Cory said. "She dominated a player whom I consider to be one of the best in the country."

Also winning for UNLV was Marianne Bakken over Dominque Reynolds at the third spot 6-1, 6-3.

In doubles, Bakken and Malec teamed to win at the top position and Urska Radanovic and Veronica Goude won at No. 3. BYU clinched the match with a win at the second spot.

UNLV WOMEN'S TENNIS RESULTSBYU 5, UNLV 4At BYU Indoor Tennis Courts, Provo, Utah
SINGLES--1. Katarina Malec (UNLV) def. Eline Chiew (BYU)     6-3, 6-42. Liza Khoudoiarova (BYU) def. Veronica Goude (UNLV)   4-6, 7-6, 6-33. Marianne Bakken (UNLV) def. Dominique Reynolds (BYU) 6-1, 6-34. Kim Kelly (BYU) def. Urska Radanovic (UNLV)      6-2, 6-45. Tara Ferguson (BYU) def. Michaela Gabl (UNLV)    7-5, 6-36. Lu Oswald (BYU) def. Amy Hadziosmanovic (UNLV)   6-0, 7-6
DOUBLES--1. Bakken/Malec (UNLV) def. Khoudoiarova/Reynolds (BYU)   8-42. Chiew/Oswald (BYU) def. M. Gabl/Hadziosmanovic (UNLV)  8-43. Radanovic/Goude (UNLV) def.Ferguson/Kelly (BYU)    8-6