March 29, 2008

PROVO, Utah - Despite playing just its second indoors match this season, the 62nd-ranked UNLV women's tennis team broke a four-match losing skid by downing No. 56 Utah 4-0 at the BYU Indoor Courts on Saturday.

The Lady Rebels improved to 9-7 on the year while evening their Mountain West Conference record at 1-1. The Utes fell to 10-6/1-1. The match started with doubles play and UNLV took both completed matches for one team point. The 59th-ranked duo of Elena Gantcheva and Kristina Nedeltcheva upset 43rd-ranked Elizabeth Ferris and Emily Kwok 8-3 at the top spot. Katy Williams and Anna Maskaljun won 8-2 on court three while the other match was halted.

In singles, Nedeltcheva, ranked 120th, finished off Evgenia Kryuchkova 6-1, 6-1 at No. 2 and Maskaljun swept Erin Monson 6-3, 6-3 at No. 4. The match ended when Gantcheva, ranked 31st, closed out 43rd-ranked Ferris 6-4, 6-4 at the top position.

"It was a great win for our program today," said head coach Kevin Cory. "Utah is an improved team that is going to win a lot of matches this year so we feel fortunate to get out of here with a 4-0 victory." The Lady Rebels next host TCU on April 4.

UNLV WOMEN'S TENNIS RESULTS#62 UNLV 4, #56 UTAH 0At BYU Indoor Courts, Provo, UT
DOUBLES: (UNLV EARNS ONE TEAM POINT)1.  #59 Gantcheva/Nedletcheva (UNLV) def. #41 Ferris/Kwok (UU) 8-32.  Marin/Dimitrova (UNLV) vs. Walsh/Kryuchkova (UU) DNF3.  Williams/Maskaljun (UNLV) def. Maughan/Monson (UU) 8-2Order of Finish: 3,1*
SINGLES: (UNLV EARNS THREE TEAM POINTS)1.  #31 Elena Gantcheva (UNLV) def. #43 Elizabeth Ferris (UU) 6-4, 6-42.  #120 Kristina Nedeltcheva (UNLV) def. Evgenia Kryuchkova (UU) 6-1, 6-13.  Nikol Dimitrova (UNLV) vs. Emily Kowk (UU) DNF4.  Anna Maskaljun (UNLV) def. Erin Monson (UU) 6-3, 6-35.  Katy Williams (UNLV) vs. Leigh Walsh (UU) DNF6.  Sharon Marin (UNLV) vs. Karine Bourdages (UU) DNFOrder of Finish: 2,4,1**Clinching Match