Feb. 22, 2008

LAS VEGAS - The 38th-ranked UNLV women's tennis team earned an early 2-0 lead but then saw No. 34 Texas A&M win four of the next five matches to claim a 4-3 victory at the Fertitta Tennis Complex on Friday.

The Lady Rebels suffered their first home loss of the season and fell to 6-2 overall while the Aggies improved to 5-1.

UNLV began the morning by winning two of three doubles matches for one team point. The Lady Rebel duo of Elena Gantcheva and Kristina Nedeltcheva downed 60th-ranked Tiffany Clifford and Christi Liles at the top spot 8-6. The hosts then won the point on court two when Katy Williams an Anna Maskaljun upset 42nd-ranked Anna Blagodarova and Michelle Sammons by the score of 8-4.

In singles play, Gantcheva, ranked 23rd nationally, continued her senior-season dominance with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Elze Potgieter. Gantcheva improved to 17-6 overall and has not lost a set in seven dual matches this season. The two-time conference player of the year also became the third Lady Rebel in history to record at least 100 all-time singles wins. With her 100-32 mark, she joined Marianne Vallin (125 wins from 1994-97) and Jolene Watanabe (120 from 1987-90).

The Aggies, however, quickly tied things up with straight-set wins at spots 3-4. The final three matches all went to a third set and each side needed to win at least two to earn the team victory. A&M was that team, getting points on court five and court six to clinch it. UNLV did take the final point when Nedeltcheva emerged over Blagodarova at the second position, 7-6, 3-6, 6-2.

It just gets tougher for the Lady Rebels as they host No. 14 Fresno State on Saturday beginning with doubles at 10 a.m. Admission is free of charge.

2008 UNLV WOMEN'S TENNIS RESULTSNo. 34 TEXAS A&M 4, No. 38 UNLV 3At Fertitta Tennis Complex, Las Vegas
DOUBLES - (UNLV earns one team point)1. Gantcheva/Nedeltcheva (UNLV) def. #60 Clifford/Liles (A&M) 8-62. Maskaljun/Williams (UNLV) def. #42 Blagodarova/Michelle Sammons (A&M) 8-43. Stephanie Davidson/Frank (A&M) def. Sharon Marin/Alisa Razina (UNLV) 8-0
SINGLES - (TA&M earns four team points)1. #23 Elena Gantcheva (UNLV) def. Elze Potgieter (A&M) 6-4, 6-32. Kristina Nedeltcheva (UNLV) def. Anna Blagodarova (A&M) 7-6, 3-6, 6-23. Christi Liles (A&M) def. Katy Williams (UNLV) 7-5, 6-34. Tiffany Clifford (A&M) def. Nikol Dimitrova (UNLV) 7-6, 6-05. Morgan Frank (A&M) def. Anna Maskaljun (UNLV) 6-3, 2-6, 6-36. Marisa Druss (A&M) def. Adrienn Hidvegi (UNLV) 4-6, 6-4, 6-2