Doubles Win Means Rebel Sweep
5/22/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
May 22, 2000
MALIBU, Calif. - Katarina Malec and Marianne Bakken became the first UNLV women's doubles to ever win a match at the NCAA championships, which got under way on the campus of Pepperdine University Monday.
The 27th-ranked duo survived a scare and downed 46th-ranked Ashleigh Dolman and Maria Galoustova of Oklahoma State, 6-0, 5-7, 6-2, in first-round action.
The Lady Rebel tandem won its 15th straight match and improved to 25-3 on the year.
But it wasn't easy. After pulling ahead 6-0, 5-2, Malec and Bakken lost five straight games as the Cowgirl team fought off three match points and rallied to take the second set. UNLV's entry regained its composure, however, and quickly closed out the two-hour match.
"Katarina and Marianne showed they have a lot of heart in coming back in that third set," UNLV head coach Kevin Cory said. "They felt the pressure and came through with some aggressive play.
"Sometimes it is better to have to play with nerves to prove to yourself that you can win under pressure. The way they won the match will only help them in the upcoming rounds."
Malec and Bakken, who were both making their NCAA championships debut, were the fifth UNLV doubles team in history to earn a spot in the event but were the first not to be ousted in the first round.
Round two will be played Tuesday.
