March 31, 2001

SAN DIEGO - Despite defaulting both a singles and doubles match before play even began, a banged up UNLV men's tennis team won its fourth straight with a 4-3 victory over Mountain West Conference rival BYU on the campus of San Diego State Saturday.

UNLV, ranked 32nd, improved to 11-6 overall and 2-0 vs. league competition. The 73rd-ranked Cougars dropped to 7-10 and 2-3 in the MWC.

With only five players making the trip because of injuries, the Rebels began play down 1-0 overall and behind in doubles 1-0. UNLV had to win both doubles matches to take the team point. The Rebels' No. 2 team won 8-5 but the Cougars' 23rd-ranked team of Carlos Lozano and Gert Vilms slipped by Nenad Zivkovic and Thomas Schneiter at the top position, 9-8 (7-5 in the tiebreaker), to give BYU a 2-0 lead.

In singles play, three Rebels quickly won in straight sets. Zivkovic at the top spot, Gregor Skorin at No. 3 and Leslie Eisinga at No. 5. However, with BYU taking a three-set win at No. 2, the match came down to the fourth position where UNLV's Artin Tafazoli rallied to win 6-7, 6-2, 6-1 over Michael Gysens and give the Rebels' their fifth victory over a ranked team this season.

UNLV continues conference play by facing San Diego State on Sunday.

UNLV MEN'S TENNIS RESULTS
UNLV 4, BYU 3
At San Diego State Tennis Courts
SINGLES--
1.  Nenad Zivkovic (UNLV) def. Gert Vilms (BYU)    7-6, 6-42.  Carlos Lozano (BYU) def. Thomas Schneiter (UNLV)3-6, 6-3, 6-23.  Gregor Skorin (UNLV) def. Eric Nyman (BYU)  6-4, 6-34.  Artin Tafazoli (UNLV) def. Michael Gysens (BYU)    6-7, 6-2, 6-15.  Leslie Eisinga (UNLV) def. Jeff Olsen (BYU)    6-4, 6-26.  BYU WINS BY DEFAULT                         Default
DOUBLES--
1.  Vilms/Lozano (BYU) def. Zivkovic/Schneiter (UNLV)   9-8 (5)2.  Skorin/Eisinga (UNLV) def. Olsen/Jeff Harbach (BYU) 8-53.  BYU WINS BY DEFAULT                                     Default