April 24, 2003

PROVO, Utah - In a match that was much closer than the final score indicated, the UNLV men's tennis team was defeated 4-1 by No. 61 BYU in the first round of the Mountain West Conference Championship Thursday.

The Rebels fell to 2-13 overall and 0-6 vs. league opponents while the host Cougars improved to 12-9 and 5-1.

In a tough doubles competition, BYU won on the third court before UNLV evened things at No. 2 where Aviram Salomon and Joel Kielbowicz teamed up for an 8-3 final. The team point was claimed by the Cougars, however, with their 8-6 win at the top spot.

In singles play, UNLV won the first set on three of six courts but only Kielbowicz ultimately scored for the Rebels, 6-2, 7-6 over Jeff Olsen at the fourth position. Two matches that were heading to a third set, at No. 1 and No. 3, were halted when BYU reached four team points.

UNLV will close its season by facing Utah in Friday's consolation match for fifth place after the Utes fell to Air Force 4-3 in the first round. BYU will take on second-seeded New Mexico, which enjoyed a first-round bye.

2003 MWC MEN'S TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP
FIRST ROUND
(#61) BYU 4, UNLV 1
At BYU Courts, Provo, Utah
SINGLES -- (BYU EARNS THREE TEAM POINTS)
1. Erik Nyman (BYU) vs. Henner Nehles (UNLV)         Did Not Finish2. Carlos Lozano (BYU) def. Aviram Salomon (UNLV)    6-2, 7-63. Romain Massaro (UNLV) vs. Jose Lechuga (BYU)      Did Not Finish4. Joel Kielbowicz (UNLV) def. Jeff Olsen (BYU)      6-2, 7-65. Alonso Medina (BYU) def.  Milos Blagojevic (UNLV) 7-5, 6-16. Anton Rudjuk (BYU) def. Ryan Barber (UNLV)        6-0, 6-1
DOUBLES -- (BYU EARNS ONE TEAM POINT)1. Lozano/Nyman (BYU) def. Nehles/Massaro (UNLV)        8-62. Salomon/Kielbowicz (UNLV) def. Lechuga/Rudjuk (BYU)  8-33. Medina/Olsen (BYU) def. Blagojevic/Barber (UNLV)     8-3