March 12, 2004

LAS VEGAS - The UNLV men's tennis team had its four-match winning streak snapped by No. 33 Oklahoma State in a closer-than-it-looks 6-1 final at the Fertitta Tennis Complex Friday.

The Rebels fell to 5-4 while the Cowboys improved to 5-1.

Playing in perfect weather conditions, OSU started the day by taking two of three doubles matches for one team point. UNLV's win came at No. 3 where David DiMartino and Marko Blagojevic won 8-6.

In singles play, UNLV tied the match when Yevgen Bondarchuk retired early in the first set to give Aviram Salomon the victory at No. 2. Then, in a battle of ranked players, No. 55 Mark Van Elden made quick work of No. 57 host Henner Nehles at the top spot 6-3, 6-4.

After an OSU win on No. 5 pushed the lead to 3-1, UNLV made things interesting as Rebels were leading in the third set on all three remaining courts. However, Felipe Diaz rallied from down 5-2 on Court Six to force a deciding tiebreaker and ultimately upended Blagojevic 1-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7-4), which clinched the team victory. Romain Massaro and Joel Kielbowicz then were rallied past on courts three and four, respectively.

"That was as close a 6-1 match as you'll ever see," UNLV head coach Owen Hambrook said. "I was really proud because our guys really fought up and down the lineup and we can see signs that everyone is improving on this team."

The Rebels will next host Southern Mississippi on Sunday beginning at 1:30 p.m. Admission, as always, is free of charge.

UNLV MEN'S TENNIS RESULTS#33 OKLAHOMA STATE 6, UNLV 1At Fertitta Tennis Complex, Las Vegas
DOUBLES: (OSU EARNS ONE TEAM POINT)1. Bondarchuk/Kuharic (OSU) def. Nehles/Kielbowicz (UNLV) 8-42. Van Elden/Byrnes (OSU) def. Massaro/Salomon (UNLV) 8-43. DiMartino/Blagojevic (UNLV) def. Diaz/Bohunicky (OSU) 8-6
SINGLES: (OSU EARNS FIVE TEAM POINTS)1. #55 Mark Van Elden (OSU) def. #57 Henner Nehles (UNLV) 6-3, 6-42. Aviram Salomon (UNLV) def. Yevgen Bondarchuk (OSU) 1-2 retired3. Tomas Bohunicky (OSU) def. Romain Massaro (UNLV) 6-3, 4-6, 6-24. Boris Kuharic (OSU) def. Joel Kielbowicz (UNLV) 6-4, 5-7, 7-65. Daniel Byrnes (OSU) def. David DiMartino (UNLV) 6-1, 7-56. Felipe Diaz (OSU) def. Marko Blagojevic (UNLV) 1-6, 6-1, 7-6