Feb. 26, 2003

LAS VEGAS - The second annual UNLV Women's Tennis Spring Invitational kicks off Friday with eight teams, including four nationally ranked programs, competing at the Fertitta Tennis Complex this weekend.

Squads from No. 44 Oklahoma, No. 57 New Mexico, No. 75 Cal State Northridge, Loyola Marymount, Montana State, Southwest Missouri State and Northern Arizona will take on the host Lady Rebels in a bracket format culminating in Sunday's championship at noon on campus.

UNLV (4-1) moved up one spot to No. 17 in the Omni Hotels Intercollegiate Tennis rankings, which were released by the ITA Wednesday.

At the tourney, first through eighth place will be determined by playing four matches a day running concurrently at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and at 9 a.m. and noon on Sunday. Admission to all tournament matches is free.

Wake Forest, then ranked sixth, won last year's tournament with a 4-2 victory over UNLV in a thrilling final.

2003 UNLV WOMEN'S TENNIS SPRING INVITATIONAL BRACKET
FRIDAY:10 a.m. New Mexico vs. Loyola Marymount10 a.m. Oklahoma vs. Northern Arizona
2 p.m.  Cal State Northridge vs. SW Missouri State2 p.m.  UNLV vs. Montana State
SATURDAY:10 a.m. WINNERS' BRACKET2 p.m.  LOSERS' BRACKET
SUNDAY:9 a.m.  TBD9 a.m.  TBD
Noon    TBDNoon    TBD
OMNI HOTELS INTERCOLLEGIATE TENNIS RANKINGS (2-26-03)
1.  Florida (8)2.  Southern California3.  Stanford4.  California5.  Georgia6.  Duke7.  Arizona State8.  UCLA9.  Vanderbilt10. Tennessee11. William & Mary12. North Carolina13. Texas14. South Alabama15. Northwestern16. Fresno State17. UNLV18. Kentucky19. Notre Dame20. Washington