Oct. 22, 2004
SAN DIEGO - UNLV placed two individuals and two doubles teams in the Round of 16 at the 2004 Wilson ITA Women's Tennis West Regional, which continued play Friday on the campus of San Diego State.
Anne Claire Ortiz-Luis began the day in the Main Draw by stunning sixth-seeded and 40th-ranked Carine Vermeulen of USC 7-6, 7-6. The Lady Rebel then downed Tamara Tanner of Loyola Marymount, 6-4, 6-3, to survive.
Joining her in the Round of 16 is eighth-seeded freshman sensation Elena Gantcheva who improved her record to 12-0 by downing Arizona's Kasia Jakowlew 6-1, 6-3 and then rallying past Arizona State's Sabrina Capannolo 4-6, 6-2, 6-1.
Fellow UNLV rookie Sharon Marin won her first-round match 6-0, 6-0 over Sandra Rocha of Long Beach State but lost a three-setter to UC Irvine's Anna Bentzer later in the day, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.
Junior Cindy Treber also won her first match, 6-3, 6-2 over Hawaii's Kimberly Curtis, before being eliminated by seventh-seeded Nicole Leimbach of USC 6-1, 6-1.
Two other Lady Rebels fell in the first round. Gyorgyi Zsiros lost to Pepperdine's Sylvia Kosakowski 1-6, 6-3, 6-3. However, the 72nd-ranked senior is still alive in the Consolation Draw after winning 6-1, 6-2 over UC Irvine's Izabela Mijic.
Mery Constanti, who won a spot in the Main Draw through qualifying earlier i the week, was eliminated after losing both of her matches Friday.
In doubles, Zsiros and teammate Claire Smith won a thrilling match 9-7 vs. the homestanding San Diego State duo of Dita Hauerlandova and Indra Erichsen, who were seeded fourth and ranked 40th.
The duo of Gantcheva and Marin also advanced by downing Pepperdine's Natalie Braverman and Lise Sissle 8-5.
UNLV's other doubles entry of Treber and Constanti was defeated 8-3.
"This was a tremendous day for our program here -- maybe the best ever at this event," UNLV head coach Kevin Cory said. "I am especially proud of Anne Claire. She showed a lot of heart and determination in earning a huge upset. I was also impressed with Gyorgyi and Claire, who pulled out a big win over a doubles team from our main rival on their home court."
