Feb. 7, 2009

LAS VEGAS - Because of Saturday's rains in the Valley, the UNLV men's tennis team went from hoping to play outdoors in the morning to finishing up at 8 p.m. at an off-campus indoor facility -- and ended the long day by suffering its first loss of the season.

The 72nd-ranked Rebels fell to 5-1 with a heartbreaking 4-3 defeat at the hands of New Mexico State, which improved to 5-0 and picked up its first win over a ranked opponent since 2004.

After the courts at the Fertitta Tennis Complex became unplayable, the teams eventually headed indoors to the International Tennis Centre and staged a monumental match that featured four three-setters.

NMSU began the proceedings by picking up the key doubles point after squeaking out the deciding match on court two, 9-7. UNLV got its win from the No. 3 duo of Bryan Miller and Mehdi Bouras.

In singles, the Rebels bounced back on the strength of the top of their lineup. The team's No. 1 player, 111th Elliot Wronski, won his ninth straight match with a 7-5, 6-2 victory over Roman Stoisavljevic. At No. 2, Bouras rallied to earn a 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 win over Jim Brouleau on court two.

After Wesley Burrows rallied at No. 4 for a 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Arthur Surreaux, UNLV enjoyed a 3-2 lead. However, the Aggies were able to pull out the remaining two matches to post the upset. Matej Stakne clinched it on court five with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 win over Attila Toth.

Weather permitting, UNLV will return to Fertitta to take on Southern Mississippi starting at noon Sunday. Admission is free of charge.

UNLV MEN'S TENNIS RESULTSNMSU 4, #72 UNLV 3International Tennis Centre, Las Vegas
DOUBLES -- (NMSU EARNS ONE TEAM POINT)1. Roman Stoisavljevic/Eduardo Salas (NMSU) def. Wronski/Burrows (UNLV) 8-42. Jim Brouleau/Gustave Diep (NMSU) def. Barlocchi/Toth (UNLV) 9-73. Bryan Miller/Bouras(UNLV) def. Arthur Surreaux/Stefan McKinney (NMSU) 8-4
SINGLES -- (NMSU EARNS THREE TEAM POINTS)1. #111 Elliot Wronski (UNLV) def. Roman Stoisavljevic (NMSU) 7-5, 6-22. Mehdi Bouras (UNLV) def. Jim Brouleau (NMSU) 3-6, 6-2, 7-63. Gustave Diep (NMSU) def. Luca Barlocchi (UNLV) 6-1, 5-7, 7-54. Wesley Burrows (UNLV) def. Arthur Surreaux (NMSU) 5-7, 6-3, 6-45. Matej Stakne (NMSU) def. Attila Toth (UNLV) 4-6, 6-4, 6-36. Eduardo Salas (NMSU) def. Nikolaj Wulff (UNLV) 6-3, 6-4