March 11, 2005
LAS VEGAS - The 30th-ranked UNLV women's tennis team woke up after a dismal doubles display in time to defeat No. 57 Pennsylvania 5-2 at the Fertitta Tennis Complex Friday.
Playing in beautiful weather conditions, the Lady Rebels improved to 6-2 overall while the Quakers fell to 5-4.
Penn began the day by easily sweeping three doubles matches for one team point as UNLV proved sluggish after losing a long match to Notre Dame one day earlier.
It was a different story in singles play, however, as four Lady Rebels won in straight sets. Cindy Treber was first off when her opponent retired at No. 5 for a 6-1, 2-0 final. Anne Claire Ortiz-Luis swept her match at No. 4 as did Claire Smith on court six. At the top spot, 29th-ranked freshman Elena Gantcheva cruised past No. 92 Yulia Rivelis 6-3, 6-4 to improve to 7-0 in dual matches and 23-2 overall.
With the match already decided, senior Gyorgyi Zsiros came all the way back after being blanked in the first set to upset No. 100 Julia Koulbitskaya 0-6, 6-3, 7-5 at the second spot. Penn ended the day with its lone singles win when Michelle Mitchell outlasted Sharon Marin in a marathon two-setter 6-4, 7-5 on court three.
"It was nice to see us step up our level of play after a very shaky start," UNLV head coach Kevin Cory said. "I am especially proud of Gyorgyi Zsiros, who fought off two match points to come through with a win over a ranked player. Penn is a solid team and will beat a lot of ranked teams this season, so this is a significant victory for us."
UNLV continues its homestand on Saturday vs. No. 7 William & Mary starting at 10 a.m.
UNLV WOMEN'S TENNIS RESULTS#30 UNLV 5, #57 PENNSYLVANIA 2At Fertitta Tennis Complex, Las Vegas
DOUBLES: (PENN EARNS ONE TEAM POINT)1. Koulbitskaya/Chao (PENN) def. Ortiz-Luis/Linda Tempelfelde (UNLV) 8-32. Ciochina/Mitchell (PENN) def. Zsiros/Smith (UNLV) 8-33. Kate Williams/Stanislawki (PENN) def. Gantcheva/Mery Constanti (UNLV) 8-1
SINGLES: (UNLV EARNS FIVE TEAM POINTS)1. #29 Elena Gantcheva (UNLV) def. #92 Yulia Rivelis (PENN) 6-3, 6-42. Gyorgyi Zsiros (UNLV) def. #100 Julia Koulbitskaya (PENN) 0-6, 6-3, 7-53. Michelle Mitchell (PENN) def. Sharon Marin (UNLV) 6-4, 7-54. Anne Claire Ortiz-Luis (UNLV) def. Shelah Chao (PENN) 6-2, 6-15. Cindy Treber (UNLV) def. Caroline Stanisklawksi (PENN) 6-1, 2-0 retired6. Claire Smith (UNLV) def. Raluca Ciochina (PENN) 6-4, 6-1
