March 10, 2006

LAS VEGAS - The UNLV men's tennis team stayed perfect at home this season with an impressive 6-1 win over 58th-ranked Ball State on a dark, windy and cold Friday afternoon at the Fertitta Tennis Complex.

With their third straight victory, the Rebels improved 10-3 overall and 6-0 at home while the Cardinals, who were without their regular No. 4 player, saw their nine-match winning streak snapped to fall to 11-4.

Beginning with a spirited session of doubles play, UNLV won the bottom two matches by the same score of 8-6 to earn the team point.

In singles play the Rebels turned in five straight-set victories. At the top position, senior Joel Kielbowicz upset No. 99 Matt Baccarani 6-3, 7-5. Also winning for the hosts were Brett Hunter at No. 3, 6-0, 6-3 over Tony Epkey, Elliot Wronski, who upped his record to 9-1 with a 6-0, 6-2 victory at No. 4 over Jarrod Epkey, Wesley Burrows at No. 5, 6-3, 6-2 over Danny Vidal and Jonathan Hooper, who took care of Joe Vallee 6-1, 6-2 on court six.

"Even considering that we were playing Ball State without one of its starters, it was a good, tough effort turned in by our team across the board," UNLV head coach Owen Hambrook said. "Now we have a week to get better and prepare for another solid ranked team coming in here."

The Rebels host No. 31 South Carolina on March 17 beginning at 1:30 p.m.

UNLV MEN'S TENNIS RESULTSUNLV 6, #58 BALL STATE 1At Fertitta Tennis Complex, Las Vegas, NV
DOUBLES: (UNLV EARNS ONE TEAM POINT)1. #28 Baccarani/Joe Epkey (BSU) def.Kielbowicz/David Campbell (UNLV) 8-62. Wronski/Hunter (UNLV) def.Tony Epkey/Jarrod Epkey (BSU) 8-63. Massaro/Burrows (UNLV) def.Vidal/Vallee (BSU) 8-6
SINGLES: (UNLV EARNS FIVE TEAM POINTS)1. Joel Kielbowicz (UNLV) def. #99 Matt Baccarani (BSU) 6-3, 7-52. Joe Epkey (BSU) def. Romain Massaro (UNLV) 7-5, 6-03. Brett Hunter (UNLV) def. Tony Epkey (BSU) 6-0, 6-34. Elliot Wronski (UNLV) def. Jarrod Epkey (BSU) 6-0, 6-25. Wesley Burrows (UNLV) def. Danny Vidal (BSU) 6-3, 6-26. Jonathan Hooper (UNLV) def. Joe Vallee (BSU) 6-1, 6-2