March 17, 2000

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The UNLV men's tennis team was just a few points away from upsetting the nation's fifth-ranked squad, but the Rebels fell short in losing to Illinois, 4-2, at the Blue-Gray Tennis Classic Friday.

The Rebels, who had a first-round match cancelled when Wake Forest withdrew from the event, finally played the Illini after being delayed by rain for one day. And UNLV, despite falling to 4-9 on the year, turned in one of its strongest efforts of the season while Illinois improved to 7-3 overall.

The powerful Illini opened the day by taking the two completed doubles matches for one team point. No. 40-ranked team of Cary Franklin and Graydon Oliver downed Nenad Zivkovic and Gregor Skorin, 8-6, at the top spot and the 12th-ranked duo of Jeff Laski and Jamal Parker won 8-4 at No. 2 over Vladimir Pavicevic and Danny Erez.

In singles play, which featured three matches decided with a super tiebreaker, Illinois was able to win three of five completed points for the victory. At the top spot, No. 13-ranked Franklin defeated No. 81 Pavicevic 6-4, 6-4. UNLV won at the second position when Zivkovic upset No. 31 Laski, 6-2, 5-7, 10-7. UNLV also got a win at No. 6 where Robbie Parlade downed Shawn Brooke, 5-7, 6-4, 10-8. Illinois got a win at No. 4 and then eked out a 4-6, 7-6, 10-8 victory at the third slot to clinch. The No. 5 match was then halted.

2000 UNLV MEN'S TENNIS RESULTSILLINOIS 4, UNLV 2BLUE-GRAY TENNIS CLASSIC
SINGLES-1.  Cary Franklin (ILL) def. Vladimir Pavicevic (UNLV) 6-4, 6-42.  Nenad Zivkovic (UNLV) def. Jeff Laski (ILL) 6-2, 5-7, 10-7 (Super Tiebreaker)3.  Graydon Oliver (ILL) def. Danny Erez (UNLV) 4-6, 7-6, 10-8 (Super Tiebreaker)4.  Jamal Parker (ILL) def. Tyler Roberts (UNLV)    6-3, 6-35.  Did Not Finish6.  Robbie Parlade (UNLV) def. Shawn Brooke (ILL)   5-7, 6-4, 10-8 (Super Tiebreaker)
DOUBLES-1.  Franklin/Oliver (ILL) def. Zivkovic/Gregor Skorin (UNLV)   8-62.  Laski/Parker (ILL) def. Pavicevic/Erez (UNLV)          8-43.  Did Not Finish