Feb. 24, 2008

LAS VEGAS - The 38th-ranked UNLV women's tennis team snapped a two-match losing streak by upsetting No. 32 Florida International 6-1 on a cool and breezy Sunday at the Fertitta Tennis Complex.

While also avenging a 5-2 loss to FIU here a year ago, the Lady Rebels improved to 7-3 while the Golden Panthers fell to 3-4.

UNLV began the morning by taking two of three doubles matches for one team point. The top duo of Elena Gantcheva and Kristina Nedeltcheva won 8-6 on court one while Alisa Razina and Nikol Dimitrova combined for an 8-4 victory at No. 3.

The Lady Rebels came out smoking in singles, winning the first set on five of six courts. Gantcheva, ranked 23rd in the nation, picked up another ranked win by sweeping No. 86 Liset Brito 6-2, 6-4. The senior star improved to 18-7 on the year, including 8-1 in dual matches.

Also winning in straight sets was Dimitrova at No. 4 and Anna Maskaljun at No. 5. With UNLV clinching the victory with a 4-0 lead, the final three matches were settled with third-set super-tiebreakers and the hosts took two of them. Katy Williams emerged at the third position, 6-3, 4-6, 1-0 (10-4), while Adrienn Hidvegi won on court six, 6-0, 6-7, 1-0 (10-7).

"After two tough losses the Rebels really showed up to play today," UNLV head coach Kevin Cory said. "Florida International is a perennially highly ranked team so it was an important win for us. Hopefully it's the first of many big ones this season."

The Lady Rebels are off until hosting SMU next Sunday beginning with doubles at 10 a.m. Admission is free of charge.

2008 UNLV WOMEN'S TENNIS RESULTS#38 UNLV 6, #32 FIU 1At Fertitta Tennis Complex, Las Vegas
DOUBLES - (UNLV earns one team point)1. Gantcheva/Nedeltcheva (UNLV) def. Castillo/Petrauskaite (FIU) 8-62. Brito/Pazo (FIU) def. Maskaljun/Williams (UNLV) 8-63. Dimitrova/Razina (UNLV) def. Cutuk/ Vallasciani (FIU) 8-4
SINGLES - (UNLV earns five team points)1. #23 Elena Gantcheva (UNLV) def. #86 Liset Brito (FIU) 6-2, 6-42. Egle Petrauskaite (FIU) def. Kristina Nedeltcheva (UNLV) 3-6, 6-0, 1-0 (1-0 retired)3. Katy Williams (UNLV) def. Maria Dolores Pazo (FIU) 6-3, 4-6, 1-0 (10-4)4. Nikol Dimitrova (UNLV) def. Priscilla Castillo (FIU) 6-1, 6-45. Anna Maskaljun (UNLV) def. Marijana Cutuk (FIU) 6-1, 6-16. Adrienn Hidvegi (UNLV) def. Maria Vallasciani (FIU) 6-0, 6-7, 1-0 (10-7)