March 29, 2002

LAS VEGAS - The 58th-ranked UNLV men's tennis team opened Mountain West Conference play by downing Air Force 6-1 at the Fertitta Tennis Complex Friday.

The Rebels improved to 8-7 overall and 7-2 at home this spring. The Falcons dropped to 12-4 and 0-1.

UNLV began the day by winning two of three doubles matches for one team point.

In singles play, 68th-ranked Thomas Schneiter downed Eric Pittman 6-3, 6-4. Also winning in straight sets for the Rebels were Romain Tug at No. 2, Aviram Salomon at No. 3 and Andreas Maurer on the sixth court.

The teams split two three-set matches to close out the day. Leslie Eisinga won for the home team and Justin Mancinelli rallied to reach a third-set tiebreaker, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (3), to give the Academy its only point.

The Rebels continue round-robin conference play by taking on New Mexico Saturday beginning at noon while the Falcons face No. 30 San Diego State also at the Fertitta.

MEN'S TENNIS RESULTS
(#58) UNLV 6, (#74) AIR FORCE 1
At Fertitta Tennis Complex, Las Vegas
SINGLES-(UNLV EARNS FIVE TEAM POINTS)1. (68) Thomas Schneiter (UNLV) def. Eric Pittman (AFA)  6-3, 6-42. Romain Tug (UNLV) def. Kyle Rainey (AFA)        6-1, 6-13. Aviram Salomon (UNLV) def. Chris Zielinski (AFA)    6-1, 6-24. Justin Mancinelli (AFA) def. Thomas Michaud (UNLV)  3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (3)5. Leslie Eisinga (UNLV) def. Tyler McClung (AFA)  6-2, 4-6, 6-36. Andreas Maurer (UNLV) def. Phil Yim (AFA)       7-6 (3), 6-0
DOUBLES-(UNLV EARNS ONE TEAM POINT)1. Michaud/Eisinga (UNLV) def. Chris Zielinski/Greg Zielinksi (AFA)9-72. Schneiter/Maurer (UNLV) def. Pittman/McClung (AFA)       8-63. Rainey/Mancinelli (AFA) def. Salomon/Tug (UNLV)      8-6