March 27, 2005

LAS VEGAS - The 35th-ranked UNLV women's tennis team lost in Mountain West Conference play for the first time this spring as No. 48 New Mexico upset the Lady Rebels 4-3 Sunday at the Fertitta Tennis Complex.

UNLV fell to 9-6 overall and 2-1 in the league after what was its first loss of the season to a team ranked outside of the nation's top 25.

UNM began the day by sweeping three hotly contested doubles matches for one team point.

In singles play UNLV tied things with Cindy Treber's 6-1, 6-1 win at No. 5. However, UNM was strong up high as No. 61 Maja Kovacek next upset 22nd-ranked Elena Gantcheva 6-2, 6-3 at the top position. Claire Smith's 6-4, 6-1 win on court six pulled the Lady Rebels even again at 2-2.

Sharon Marin then lost in three sets on No. 3 to Michelle Heidbrink 6-3, 2-6, 6-0 before No. 48 Iva Gersic outlasted Gyorgyi Zsiros at the second spot, 7-6, 6-4, to clinch the team win.

Senior Anne Claire Ortiz-Luis, playing her final home match along with Zsiros, ended things with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over Nora Quintal at No. 4.

UNLV is off until traveling to play Colorado State on April 9.

UNLV WOMEN'S TENNIS RESULTS#48 NEW MEXICO 4, #35 UNLV 3At Fertitta Tennis Complex, Las Vegas
DOUBLES: (UNM EARNS ONE TEAM POINT)1. #8 Kovacek/Gersic (UNM) def. Ortiz-Luis/Linda Tempelfelde (UNLV) 8-52. Heidbrink/Robertson (UNM) def. #55 Zsiros/Smith (UNLV) 8-63. Quintal/Scott (UNM) def. Gantcheva/Mery Constanti (UNLV) 9-8
SINGLES: (UNM EARNS THREE TEAM POINTS)1. #61 Maja Kovaceck (UNM) def. #22 Elena Gantcheva (UNLV) 6-2, 6-32. #48 Iva Gersic (UNM) def. Gyorgyi Zsiros (UNLV) 7-6, 6-43. Michelle Heidbrink (UNM) def. Sharon Marin (UNLV) 6-3, 2-6, 6-04. Anne Claire Ortiz-Luis (UNLV) def. Nora Quintal (UNM) 4-6, 6-3, 6-45. Cindy Treber (UNLV) def. Lucy Scott (UNM) 6-1, 6-16. Claire Smith (UNLV) def. Jennifer Ryba (UNM) 6-4, 6-1