Sept. 25, 2009

WACO, Texas - UNLV's two-man contingent opened its fall season with victories before bowing out on Friday at the Baylor Intercollegiate.

Sophomore Mehdi Bouras eased by Daniel Whitehead of Texas in his opening-round match, 6-2, 6-4, but then fell to the nation's top-ranked player, Oleksandr Nedovyesov of Oklahoma State later in the day, 6-4, 6-2.

Senior Luca Barlocchi knocked off the event's 16th seed in his opener, 7-6, 6-0 over Oklahoma State's Aleksey Bessonov. In his second rounder, Barlocchi wasted triple match point and eventually fell to Rice's Oscar Podlewski 6-3, 3-6, 7-5.

Bouras and Barlocchi lost their opening doubles match earlier in the day, which means the Rebels have concluded their participation.

"This was a great event to start out our fall season by playing some top competition," said UNLV head coach Owen Hambrook. "Mehdi and Luca both had a good showing and this will serve as good preparation for next week's All-America tournament in Tulsa."

2009 BAYLOR INTERCOLLEGIATE

Waco, Texas

SINGLES ROUND OF 64

Mehdi Bouras (UNLV) def. Daniel Whitehead (Texas) 6-2, 6-4

Luca Barlocchi (UNLV) def. (16) Aleksey Bessonov (OK STATE) 7-6, 6-0

SINGLES ROUND OF 32

(1) Oleksandr Nedovyesov (OK STATE) def. Bouras (UNLV) 6-4, 6-2

Oscar Podlewski (RICE) def. Barlocchi (UNLV) 6-3, 3-6, 7-5

DOUBLES ROUND OF 32

Nedovyesov/Bessonov (OK STATE) def. Bouras/Barlocchi (UNLV) 8-4