March 24, 2006

LAS VEGAS - For the third time in less than a month, the UNLV women's tennis team lost a match by the score of 4-3 to a team that is currently ranked in the national top 30. On Friday the one-point defeat came at the hands of No. 23 BYU in what was the Mountain West Conference opener for both schools at the Fertitta Tennis Complex.

The 63rd-ranked Lady Rebels fell to 7-5 overall while the Cougars improved to 13-5.

UNLV is winless in 2006 when it does not earn the doubles point so the hosts looked for a strong start. BYU, however, won easily on the third court and then gutted out 8-6 victories at both of the other two positions to earn the crucial 1-0 lead.

In singles, the Lady Rebels were strong at the top and bottom of the lineup but could not get it done in the middle as the visitors won on courts 2-4 in straight sets to clinch the match. UNLV got an impressive effort at No. 6 from Linda Tempelfelde who swept Jennifer Miccoli 6-3, 6-4, while Claire Smith was equally effective, 6-4, 6-2, over Dolly Chang on court five.

The only match to go three sets was a showdown of two of the league's top players. Lady Rebel super sophomore Elena Gantcheva, ranked 22nd in the nation, rallied after dropping the first set to get by 19th-ranked Olga Boulytcheva 3-6, 6-0, 7-5, and salvage a split in singles play.

"This was a tough loss to take but you have to give BYU credit," UNLV head coach Kevin Cory said. "I believe that these close losses to high-ranked teams will help us prepare for the Mountain West tournament. Now we have to work on finding that fourth point."

Next up, the Lady Rebels host Utah on Saturday beginning at 10 a.m.

UNLV WOMEN'S TENNIS RESULTS#23 BYU 4, #63 UNLV 3At Fertitta Tennis Complex, Las Vegas
DOUBLES: (BYU EARNS ONE TEAM POINT)1. Chang/Holden (BYU) def.Gantcheva/Dimitrova (UNLV) 8-62. Sourkova/Miccoli (BYU) def.Marin/Smith (UNLV) 8-63. Boulytcheva/Jones (BYU) def.Treber/Mery Constanti (UNLV) 8-0
SINGLES: (BYU EARNS THREE TEAM POINTS)1. #22 Elena Gantcheva (UNLV) def. #18 Olga Boulytcheva (BYU) 3-6, 6-0, 7-52. Lauren Jones (BYU) def. Nikol Dimitrova (UNLV) 6-4, 6-13. Anastasia Sourkova (BYU) def. Sharon Marin (UNLV) 6-3, 6-24. Sofia Holden (BYU) def. Cindy Treber (UNLV) 6-1, 6-25. Claire Smith (UNLV) def. Dolly Chang (BYU) 6-4, 6-26. Linda Tempelfelde (UNLV) def. Jennifer Miccoli (BYU) 6-3, 6-4