March 25, 2007
LAS VEGAS - The 54th-ranked UNLV women's tennis team completed a near-perfect opening weekend of conference play by posting its school-record ninth shutout of the season, 7-0 over Air Force, at the Fertitta Tennis Complex on Sunday.
The Lady Rebels improved to 14-3 overall and 3-0 in the Mountain West Conference while the Falcons fell to 9-9/0-3.
Head Coach Kevin Cory's squad is now off its best start since opening the 2003 season 15-3.
UNLV began the day by taking three doubles matches for one team point. The top Lady Rebel team, 35th-ranked Elena Gantcheva and Kristina Nedeltcheva, continued its record pace with an 8-1 victory that improved the duo to a stunning 16-1 this season. In fact, with the sweep, UNLV moved to an impressive 44-7 in doubles in dual matches this season.
In singles play, Gantcheva raced past Lauren Wilson 6-3, 6-2 at the top spot. The junior improved to 13-6 on the season and 77-23 in her career, which moved her past Janelle Barr (1991-94) into sixth place on the school's career singles victories list. Joining her in climbing the charts was teammate Claire Smith, whose 6-2, 6-1 victory over Kelly Morgan on court four gave the senior her 73rd career win and moved her past Suzi Agassi (1991-94) into eighth place all-time at UNLV.
Also winning in straight sets for the hosts was Nedeltcheva at No. 2, Nikol Dimitrova at No. 3, Linda Tempelfelde at No. 5 and Alisa Razina on court six.
UNLV will play its final non-conference match of the regular season when its hosts third-ranked Stanford on Wednesday beginning at noon.
UNLV WOMEN'S TENNIS RESULTS#54 UNLV 7, AIR FORCE 0At Fertitta Tennis Complex, Las Vegas
DOUBLES: (UNLV EARNS ONE TEAM POINT)1. #35 Gantcheva/Nedeltcheva (UNLV) def. Morgan/Abayan (AFA) 8-12. Dimitrova/Tempelfelde (UNLV) def. Walker/Wilson (AFA) 8-23. Mery Constanti/Smith (UNLV) def. Rudico/Kiser (AFA) 8-5
SINGLES: (UNLV EARNS SIX TEAM POINTS)1. Elena Gantcheva (UNLV) def. Lauren Wilson (AFA) 6-3, 6-22. Kristina Nedeltcheva (UNLV) def. Christine Abayan (AFA) 6-1, 6-33. Nikol Dimitrova (UNLV) def. Meghan Kiser (AFA) 6-3, 6-04. Claire Smith (UNLV) def. Kelly Morgan (AFA) 6-2, 6-15. Linda Tempelfelde (UNLV) def. Karissa Walker (AFA) 6-2, 6-36. Alisa Razina (UNLV) def. Erlyn Rudico (AFA) 6-2, 6-1
