March 14, 2007

LAS VEGAS - The UNLV men's tennis team broke a three-match losing streak by downing Ball State 4-3 on a record-hot March day at the Fertitta Tennis Complex Wednesday.

The Rebels improved to 4-8 overall while the Cardinals fell to 4-7.

UNLV opened the day winning the top two doubles matches to earn a 1-0 overall lead. Brett Hunter and Elliot Wronski combined for an 8-5 victory at the top position while Jonathan Hooper and Wesley Burrows won their match 8-3 at No. 2.

With temperatures near 90 degrees in singles play, freshman Luca Bijelica was the first off the courts with a 6-3, 6-1 victory at No. 6. Wronski then won his third straight match, 6-3, 7-6, at the top spot over Joe Epkey. Wesley Burrows finally clinched things for the hosts with a 7-5, 7-5 win at No. 5.

"It feels good to get the win over a good Ball State team," UNLV head coach Owen Hambrook said. "Both teams played in tough conditions with the heat having some effect. Now we have to get ready for a tough SEC opponent."

The Rebels host 55th-ranked South Carolina on Thursday beginning at 11 a.m.

UNLV MEN'S TENNIS RESULTSUNLV 4, BALL STATE 3At Fertitta Tennis Complex, Las Vegas
DOUBLES: (UNLV EARNS ONE TEAM POINT)1. Hunter/Wronski (UNLV) def. Joe Epkey/Perdomo (BSU) 8-52. Burrows/Hooper (UNLV) def. Phillips/Jorge Rodriguez (BSU) 8-33. Vallee/Jarrod Epkey (BSU) def. Campbell/Bijelica (UNLV) 8-7
SINGLES: (UNLV EARNS THREE TEAM POINTS)1. Elliot Wronski (UNLV) def. Joe Epkey (BSU) 6-3, 7-62. Aaron Phillips (BSU) def. Brett Hunter (UNLV) 6-1, 6-43. Jose Perdomo (BSU) def. David Campbell (UNLV) 7-6, 7-54. Bret Berryman (BSU) def. Jonathan Hooper (UNLV) 3-6, 6-3, 7-55. Wesley Burrows (UNLV) def. Jimmy Brannon (BSU) 7-5, 7-56. Slavko Bijelica (UNLV) def. Joe Vallee (BSU) 6-3, 6-1