March 2, 2008
LAS VEGAS - With both sides playing short-handed, the 33rd-ranked UNLV women's tennis team barely survived high winds and No. 62 SMU, 4-3, on a blustery Sunday at the Fertitta Tennis Complex.
The Lady Rebels improved to 8-3 overall on the season while the Mustangs fell to 8-5.
UNLV had to rearrange its lineup as No. 3 singles/No. 2 doubles player Katy Williams was out with an injury while SMU could only field five players and defaulted at the third doubles and sixth singles positions before even taking the courts.
Despite conceding court three, the Mustangs began the morning with a 1-0 lead after winning both doubles matches that were played.
Moving to singles, UNLV took the lead with the help of two defaults, including Nikol Dimitrova getting a win at No. 3 as her opponent retired with an injury during the second set. At the top position, 23rd-ranked Elena Gantcheva had no problem downing No. 73 Natalia Bubien, 6-2, 6-2, to make it 3-1 Lady Rebels. Gantcheva picked up her fourth ranked win in the last month en route to improving to 9-1 in duals, 19-7 overall this season and 103-33 for her spectacular career.
The Mustangs came back to tie the match, however, with wins at No. 5 and No. 2, which set up a winner-take-all scenario on court four. Despite moving up in the lineup for the first time, freshman Anna Maskaljun eventually fought off Nicole Briceno 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 to give her team the victory and bump her record to 16-5.
"Even when we didn't play our best tennis, we found a way to get to four points for the win today," UNLV head coach Kevin Cory said. "At this point in the season, that's what it's all about. You have to give SMU a lot of credit. Playing with only five is tough but all five of their players fight hard until the end."
UNLV will be off until hosting Florida State on March 12.
UNLV WOMEN'S TENNIS RESULTS#33 UNLV 4, #62 SMU 3At Fertitta Tennis Complex, Las Vegas
DOUBLES: (SMU EARNS ONE TEAM POINT)1. Bubien/Francis (SMU) def. Gantcheva/Nedeltcheva (UNLV) 8-62. #38 Briceno/Tokarieva (SMU) def. Razina/Maskaljun (UNLV) 8-43. Not played, defaulted by SMUOrder of finish: 3,2,1
SINGLES: (UNLV EARNS FOUR TEAM POINTS)1. #23 Elena Gantcheva (UNLV) def. #73 Natalia Bubien (SMU) 6-2, 6-22. Pavi Francis (SMU) def. Kristina Nedeltcheva (UNLV) 3-6, 6-1, 6-13. Nikol Dimitrova (UNLV) def. Kseniia Tokarieva (SMU) 1-6, 3-1 retired*4. Anna Maskaljun (UNLV) def. Nicole Briceno (SMU) 7-5, 4-6, 6-35. Kristen Reid (SMU) def. Adrienn Hidvegi (UNLV) 7-6, 6-16. Not played, defaulted by SMU (UNLV earns one point)Order of finish: 6, 3, 1, 5, 2, 4*Clinched match
