Feb. 23, 2006

LAS VEGAS - Two key UNLV non-conference matches next weekend will move off campus to be played in conjunction with the new Tennis Channel Open, head coach Kevin Cory announced Thursday.

The 37th-ranked Lady Rebels (4-1) will face No. 27 Michigan starting at 1 p.m. on Friday, March 3, at the Darling Tennis Center and then play 62nd-ranked Oklahoma on Saturday, March 4 at 10 a.m. Excluding moving indoors because of rain, this will mark the first time a UNLV match will be played anywhere in Las Vegas but at the school's Fertitta Tennis Complex since the campus stadium opened in 1993.

The Tennis Channel Open, which is a men's ATP tournament, and the Mirage Cup, which is a women's ITF tournament, are taking place at the Darling center from Feb. 25-March 5 and these pair of collegiate matches will become part of the festival-style events.

Grounds Passes needed for entry those two days are $20 apiece. All UNLV faculty, staff and students are being offered complimentary Grounds Passes for Feb. 27 - March 4 (maximum of two per Rebel Card per day). Simply present your Rebel Card at the Darling Tennis Center box office. The Grounds Pass will allow entrance into the tournament site to see all the action and events on those dates, including the Lady Rebel matches but excluding Stadium Court. The Amanda & Stacy Darling Memorial Tennis Center is located at 7901 W. Washington Avenue in Las Vegas.

Also, tournament organizers revealed Thursday that UNLV's top player, Elena Gantcheva, will use her previously announced wild card entry to move directly into the Mirage Cup's Main Draw. The 32-player tournament begins on Monday. The date and time of Gantcheva's first-round match is still to be determined.

Gantcheva, who was the Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year in 2005, will compete as an amateur and, in full accordance with NCAA guidelines, is not eligible for any of the $75,000 in prize money available at the Mirage Cup.