Jan. 22, 2010

LAS VEGAS - After an unusually wet week in the desert, the skies cleared Friday just in time to allow the 41st-ranked UNLV women's tennis team to open its 2010 dual match season with a 7-0 victory over New Mexico State at the Fertitta Tennis Complex.

Featuring two new starters in the lineup, the Lady Rebels began by sweeping doubles vs. their former league rivals to take a 1-0 lead. Kristina Nedeltcheva and Jana Albers won 8-3 at the top of the lineup; Alisa Razina and Anna Maskaljun blanked their opponents on court two; and Nives Pavlovic and Adrienn Hidvegi won 8-3 at the third position.

UNLV did not lose a set in singles as well. Nedeltcheva, ranked 50th in the nation, eased by Sophia Marks 6-4, 6-0 at the No. 1 spot; Pavlovic, making her Lady Rebel debut in team competition, outlasted Isabela Kulaif 7-6, 7-6 at No. 2; Albers, a transfer from Nebraska who is ranked 44th this week, won 6-1, 6-2 over Manon Sylvain at No. 3; Hidvegi downed Ginet Pinero 6-3, 6-2 at No. 4; Maskaljun defeated Natalia Salum 6-2, 6-0 at No. 5; and Rumyana Terzieva whitewashed Elizabeth Tapia 6-0, 6-0 on court six.

Weather permitting, the Lady Rebels will play a doubleheader on Saturday, facing Pacific at 10 a.m. and then Weber State at approximately 2 p.m. Admission to all UNLV matches is free of charge.

WOMEN'S TENNIS RESULTS#41 UNLV 7, NEW MEXICO STATE 0Jan. 22, 2010, at Las Vegas (Fertitta Tennis Complex)
Doubles competition1. Nedeltcheva/Albers (UNLV) def. Marks/Aleksa Costa (NMSU) 8-32. Alisa Razina/Maskaljun (UNLV) def. Kulaif/Pinero (NMSU) 8-03. Hidvegi/Pavlovic (UNLV) def. Salum/Sylvan (NMSU) 8-3
Singles competition1. #50 Kristina Nedeltcheva (UNLV) def. Sophia Marks (NMSU) 6-4, 6-02. Nives Pavlovic (UNLV) def. Isabela Kulaif (NMSU) 7-6, 7-63. #44 Jana Albers (UNLV) def. Manon Sylvain (NMSU) 6-1, 6-24. Adrienn Hidvegi (UNLV) def. Ginet Pinero (NMSU) 6-3, 6-25. Anna Maskaljun (UNLV) def. Natalia Salum (NMSU) 6-2, 6-06. Rumyana Terzieva (UNLV) def. Elizabeth Tapia (NMSU) 6-0, 6-0