March 8, 2002

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - The 59th-ranked UNLV men's team won its fourth straight match by opening play at the annual HEB Tennis Classic with a 4-2 win over Alabama-Birmingham Friday.

The Rebels improved to 4-2 overall with their first win away from home this season. The Blazers (6-2) had their six-match winning streak snapped.

UAB began the day by winning doubles matches at No.1 and No. 3 for one team point as the second match was halted.

In singles play, No. 62 Thomas Schneiter won his fourth straight with a 6-1, 7-6 final over Andre van der Merwe at the top spot.

The other four matches that were completed went the distance and UNLV won three of them.

UAB took the match on court five before Rebel Thomas Michaud outlasted Alex Jung 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 at No. 2, Aviram Salomon rallied to down Tobias Klein 5-7, 7-6, 6-4 on No. 3, and Romain Tug came back to win 6-7, 6-1, 6-1 over Ruben Zrihen at the fourth position. With UNLV having clinched the victory, the match on No. 6 was halted.

UNLV, which is seeded third in the three-day tournament, moved on to face the winner of the Memphis/Ball State match.

MEN'S TENNIS RESULTS
HEB TENNIS CLASSIC - ROUND ONE
(#59) UNLV 4, ALABAMA-BIRMINGHAM 2
At HEB Tennis Center, Corpus Christi, Texas
SINGLES-(UNLV EARNS FOUR TEAM POINTS)
1. (62) Thomas Schneiter (UNLV) def. Andre van der Merwe (UAB)   6-1, 7-62. Thomas Michaud (UNLV) def. Alex Jung (UAB)          6-4, 3-6, 6-43. Aviram Salomon (UNLV) def. Tobias Klein (UAB)       5-7, 7-6, 6-44. Romain Tug (UNLV) def. Ruben Zrihen (UAB)           6-7, 6-1, 6-15. Sanzaruz Zaman (UAB) def. Leslie Eisinga (UNLV)     7-5, 4-6, 6-26. Did Not Finish
DOUBLES-(UAB EARNS ONE TEAM POINT)1. Jung/Klein (UAB) def. Michaud/Eisinga (UNLV)         8-62. Did Not Finish3. van der Merwe/George Dubrava (UAB) def. Salomon/Tug (UNLV)   8-4