March 18, 2005

LAS VEGAS - The 47th-ranked UNLV men's tennis team rallied in singles to pull out a 4-3 neutral-site win over Yale Friday in a cold Boise, Idaho.

Playing an early morning match at the Appleton Outdoor Tennis Center, the Rebels barely survived their first action away from Las Vegas since January 25. Winning for the 10th time in the last 11 matches, UNLV improved to 10-3 overall. The Bulldogs, who fell out of the national rankings a week ago, dropped to 3-8.

With snow flakes falling, Yale began things by winning two of three doubles matches for one team point. With UNLV's only win coming at the top spot from the team of Henner Nehles and Sean Hubbard, the Rebels lost the doubles point for only the third time all season.

In singles play, UNLV tied things after its hottest player, 91st-ranked Joel Kielbowicz, won his 10th consecutive match, 7-5, 6-3, over Ryan Murphy at the second position. Also winning was freshman David Campbell over Johnny Lu at No. 5, 6-3, 7-6. After the Bulldogs won at the Nos. 3-4 slots, Nehles kept his team alive by coming from three games down in the second set to get by Brandon Wai 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 at the top position.

The match would come down to court six where rookie Martin Redelinghuys came through with the biggest win of his young career by closing out Rory Green 7-6, 4-6, 6-0 to end it.

"Playing early and in the cold, we came out flat in doubles but it was good to see everyone pick up their level of play in singles," UNLV head coach Owen Hambrook said. "We fought hard up and down the line and got a lift when Henner Nehles came through big time."

UNLV next faces No. 41 Boise State on Saturday afternoon.

UNLV MEN'S TENNIS RESULTS#47 UNLV 4, YALE 3At Appleton Outdoor Tennis Center, Boise, ID
DOUBLES: (YALE EARNS ONE TEAM POINT)1. Nehles/Sean Hubbard (UNLV) def. Wai/Murhpy (YALE) 8-52. Reynolds/Chris Lawler (YALE) def. Kielbowicz/Campbell (UNLV) 8-63. Lu/Gudzowski (YALE) def. Hooper/Redelinghuys (UNLV) 8-3
SINGLES: (UNLV EARNS FOUR TEAM POINTS)1. Henner Nehles (UNLV) def. Brandon Wai (YALE) 3-6, 7-5, 6-32. #91 Joel Kielbowicz (UNLV) def. Ryan Murphy (YALE) 7-5, 6-33. Milosz Gudkowski (YALE) def. Romain Massaro (UNLV) 4-6, 6-4, 6-44. Rowan Reynolds (YALE) def. Jonathan Hooper (UNLV) 6-4, 6-45. David Campbell (UNLV) def. Johnny Lu (YALE) 6-3, 7-66. Martin Redelinghuys (UNLV) def. Rory Green (YALE) 7-6, 4-6, 6-0