March 13, 2008
LAS VEGAS - The UNLV men's tennis team bolted to a 3-1 lead but then saw 68th-ranked South Carolina rally for a 4-3 win at the Fertitta Tennis Complex on Thursday.
The Rebels, who still hold a 3-2 all-time lead over USC, fell to 5-6 on the year while the Gamecocks improved to 8-6.
UNLV began the afternoon by winning the doubles point for the first time in three matches. The top duo of Elliot Wronski and Wesley Burrows won 8-6 and David Campbell and Luca Barlocchi teamed up for an 8-3 victory on court two.
After USC won quickly on court four, the hosts got victories from the bottom of their lineup. Senior David Campbell won 6-3, 6-3 over David Wolff at No. 5 and Rony Yeghnazary took Jaime Cuellar 6-2, 1-6, 6-1. That would be it for UNLV, however, as Gamecocks won on the second and third courts. The overall match came down to the top spot and unranked Yevgeny Supeko rallied to upset No. 93 Wronski 1-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 to give the SEC team the win.
"After winning the doubles point we had all of the momentum going into singles but South Carolina was just too tough," UNLV head coach Owen Hambrook said. "Now we're looking forward to getting back on the courts and facing another good opponent tomorrow in Ball State."
UNLV will host the Cardinals on Friday beginning with doubles at 2 p.m. Admission is free of charge.
UNLV MEN'S TENNIS RESULTS#68 SOUTH CAROLINA 4, UNLV 3At Fertitta Tennis Complex, Las Vegas
DOUBLES -- (UNLV EARNS ONE TEAM POINT)1. Wronski/Burrows (UNLV) def. Campos/Cubas (USC) 8-62. Barlocchi/Campbell (UNLV) def. Supeko/Pulsfort (USC) 8-33. Cuellar/Wolff (USC) def. Giuffrida/Miller (UNLV) 8-4Order of Finish: 3,2,1
SINGLES -- (USC EARNS FOUR TEAM POINTS)*1. Yevgeny Supeko (USC) def. #93 Elliot Wronski (UNLV) 1-6, 7-6 (5), 6-22. Diego Cubas (USC) def. Luca Barlocci (UNLV) 6-3, 6-43. Pedro Campos (USC) def. Wesley Burrows (UNLV) 7-5, 7-6 (5)4. Johannes Pulsfort (USC) def. Bryan Miller (UNLV) 6-1, 6-15. David Campbell (UNLV) def. David Wolff (USC) 6-3, 6-36. Rony Yeghnazary (UNLV) def. Jamie Cuellar (USC) 6-2, 1-6, 6-1Order of Finish: 4,5,6,3,2,1
*Clinching match
