April 5, 2008
LAS VEGAS - The 58th-ranked UNLV women's tennis team rebounded from a disheartening loss to TCU on Friday by shutting out higher-ranked New Mexico 7-0 at the Fertitta Tennis Complex Saturday.
The Lady Rebels improved to 10-8 overall and evened their Mountain West Conference record at 2-2 while the No. 55 Lobos fell to 12-7 and suffered their first league defeat in five outings this spring.
UNLV began the morning by taking two of three doubles matches for one team point. The 48th-ranked duo of Elena Gantcheva and Kristina Nedeltcheva won 8-6 on court one while Alisa Razina and Sharon Marin combined for an 8-4 victory at No. 3.
The Lady Rebels overcame a slow start in singles to eventually win on every court. Gantcheva, ranked 35th in the nation, picked up another ranked win by rallying past No. 123 Ola Abou-Zekry 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 at the top spot. Nedeltcheva won in a super-tiebreaker over Mackenzie White at No. 2, 7-6, 2-6, 1-0 (10-7), Nikol Dimitrova held off Lucy Scott at No. 3, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5, Anna Maskaljun goy by Emma Hayman 7-5, 6-1 at No. 4, Katy Williams rallied past Jennifer Ryba 4-6, 6-3, 6-0 at No. 5 and Adrienn Hidvegi swept Maria Sotirchos 6-3, 6-3 on court six.
"I was very impressed with the way we competed today against a New Mexico team that is one of the top programs in the conference," said UNLV head coach Kevin Cory. "A 7-0 win against a team like that just one day after a tough loss says a lot about our character and should give us momentum in finishing out our conference schedule."
The Lady Rebels will celebrate Senior Day on Sunday in the final home date of the season vs. San Diego State. Seniors Gantcheva and Marin will be honored before the match, which starts with doubles play at 10 a.m. Admission is free of charge.
2008 UNLV WOMEN'S TENNIS RESULTS#58 UNLV 7, #55 NEW MEXICO 0At Fertitta Tennis Complex, Las Vegas
DOUBLES: (UNLV EARNS ONE TEAM POINT)1. #48 Gantcheva/Nedeltcheva (UNLV) def. Abou-Zekry/Scott (UNM) 8-62. White/Ryba (UNM) def. Maskaljun/Williams (UNLV) 9-73. Alisa Razina/Sharon Marin (UNLV) def. Hayman/Victoria Tessmar (UNM) 8-4
SINGLES: (UNLV EARNS SIX TEAM POINTS)1. #35 Elena Gantcheva (UNLV) def. #123 Ola Abou-Zekry (UNM) 1-6, 6-3, 6-22. Kristina Nedeltcheva (UNLV) def. Mackenzie White (UNM) 7-6, 2-6, 1-0 (10-7)3. Nikol Dimitrova (UNLV) def. Lucy Scott (UNM) 6-3, 2-6, 7-54. Anna Maskaljun (UNLV) def. Emma Hayman (UNM) 7-5, 6-15. Katy Williams (UNLV) def. Jennifer Ryba (UNM) 4-6, 6-3, 6-06. Adrienn Hidvegi (UNLV) def. Maria Sotirchos (UNM) 6-3, 6-3
