March 25, 2005

LAS VEGAS - The UNLV women's tennis team opened Mountain West Conference play by getting past rival San Diego State 4-3 in windy conditions at the Fertitta Tennis Complex Friday.

The Lady Rebels, ranked 35th, improved to 8-5 while the 33rd-ranked Aztecs fell to 10-6.

UNLV, however, had to come from behind to win its third straight meeting with SDSU as the Aztecs took all three doubles matches for a 1-0 lead.

In singles play, the hosts won four straight-setters to clinch the victory. At the top spot, 22nd-ranked freshman Elena Gantcheva eased by Alesya Vidov 6-2, 6-3 to improve to 26-4 on the year, including 10-2 in dual matches.

Senior Gyorgyi Zsiros moved into sixth place on UNLV's all-time singles wins list with her 73rd career victory, 6-1, 6-2 over Dita Hauerlandova on court two.

Senior Anne Claire Ortiz-Luis swept Indra Erichsen 6-3, 6-0 at No. 4 and then junior Cindy Treber claimed the clinching point, 6-4, 6-3 over Eliska Krausova at No. 5.

"This was a great way to start out conference play," UNLV head coach Kevin Cory said. "San Diego State has had some big wins this year and I am really proud of the way our players stepped up to the challenge."

UNLV continues league play by hosting unranked Air Force on Saturday beginning at 10 a.m.

UNLV WOMEN'S TENNIS RESULTS#35 UNLV 4, #33 SAN DIEGO STATE 3At Fertitta Tennis Complex, Las Vegas
DOUBLES: (SDSU EARNS ONE TEAM POINT)1. Erichsen/Spaeth (SDSU) def. Gantcheva/Marin (UNLV) 9-82. Hauerlandova/Vidov (SDSU) def. Ortiz-Luis/Linda Tempelfelde (UNLV) 8-33. Hermansen/Krausova (SDSU) def. #55 Zsiros/Smith (UNLV) 8-3
SINGLES: (UNLV EARNS FOUR TEAM POINTS)1. #22 Elena Gantcheva (UNLV) def. Alesya Vidov (SDSU) 6-2, 6-32. Gyorgyi Zsiros (UNLV) def. Dita Hauerlandova (SDSU) 6-1, 6-23. Andrea Hermansen (SDSU) def. Sharon Marin (UNLV) 6-4, 4-6, 6-44. Anne Claire Ortiz-Luis (UNLV) def. Indra Erichsen (SDSU) 6-3, 6-05. Cindy Treber (UNLV) def. Eliska Krausova (SDSU) 6-4, 6-36. Nina Spaeth (SDSU) def. Claire Smith (UNLV) 6-3, 6-1