Jan. 21, 2009

LAS VEGAS - Kristina Nedeltcheva became the first UNLV women's tennis player other than record-setter Elena Gantcheva in nearly four years to be named Mountain West Conference Player of the Week on Wednesday.

Nedeltcheva, who this season succeeds Gantcheva as the program's top singles player, opened 2009 on a good note by notching two ranked victories at last weekend's elite Freeman Memorial Championships on the UNLV campus.

The junior from Sofia, Bulgaria, first got by No. 107 Carmen Seremeta of Oregon 6-2, 7-6 before falling to the nation's 32nd-ranked player in the Round of 16. In consolation play, Nedeltcheva rallied to upset No. 83 Shinann Featherston of North Carolina 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.

In doubles action, Nedeltcheva and partner Katy Williams won their first-round match vs. a duo from Stanford before losing to college tennis' second-ranked team from Fresno State.

Three-time MWC Player of the Year Gantcheva won a league-record nine weekly awards from 2005-08. Previous to that amazing run, UNLV's most recent winner was Anne Claire Ortiz-Luis on March 2, 2005.

BYU's Georgy Batrakov was named this week's men's player of the week. The Lady Rebels open dual-match play on Friday when they host New Mexico State beginning with doubles at 10 a.m. Admission to the Fertitta Tennis Complex is free of charge.