Jan. 24, 2009

LAS VEGAS - The UNLV men's tennis team opened 2009 competition with a 6-1 victory over the University of Missouri-Kansas City in the first half of a doubleheader at the Fertitta Tennis Complex on Saturday.

The visiting Kangaroos began the afternoon by taking two of three doubles matches for one team point. The Rebels' only win came on court two where Luca Barlocchi and Attila Toth outlasted their opponents 9-7.

It was a different story in singles play, however, as the hosts only lost one set. Freshman Mehdi Bouras, making his collegiate debut, spelled regular No. 1 player Elliot Wronski at the top spot and turned in an impressive 6-2, 6-2 win over Bret Berryman.

Also winning in straight sets were Luca Barlocchi at No. 2, Wesley Burrows at No. 3, Attila Toth at No. 4 and Bryan Miller on court five. At the sixth position, the Rebels' other rookie, German Nikolaj Wulff, lost his first set before rallying for a 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory in his debut.

UNLV takes on Weber State Saturday night to complete the doubleheader.

UNLV MEN'S TENNIS RESULTSUNLV 6, UMKC 1At Fertitta Tennis Complex, Las Vegas
DOUBLES -- (UMKC EARNS ONE TEAM POINT)1. Smith/Berryman (UMKC) def. Burrows/Bouras (UNLV) 8-62. Barlocchi/Toth (UNLV) def. Schwarz/Quintanilla (UMKC) 9-73. Ristivojevic/Guerin (UMKC) def. Miller/Wulff (UNLV) 8-3
SINGLES -- (UNLV EARNS SIX TEAM POINTS)1. Mehdi Bouras (UNLV) def. Bret Berryman (UMKC) 6-2, 6-22. Luca Barlocchi (UNLV) def. Serge Ristivojevic (UMKC) 6-0, 6-23. Wesley Burrows (UNLV) def. Pat Smith (UMKC) 6-3, 6-44. Attila Toth (UNLV) def. Gustavo Guerin (UMKC) 7-6, 6-25. Bryan Miller (UNLV) def. Dennis Schwarz (UMKC) 6-4, 6-26. Nikolaj Wulff (UNLV) def. Erwin Quintanilla (UMKC) 4-6, 6-4, 6-2