Oct. 5, 2010

PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. - UNLV freshman Lucia Batta tasted defeat in singles for the first time as a collegian when she lost her second match of the day during qualifying at the Riviera/ITA Women's Tennis Championships on Tuesday.

Batta opened the day by improving to 7-0 with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Megan Broderick of Kentucky. However, in the next round Batta faced the nation's No. 22 player, third-seeded Marta Lesniak of SMU, and lost her first set - and match - of the tournament season, 6-3, 7-6.

Batta is still alive in doubles qualifying, however, as she and teammate Aleksandra Josifoska pulled out a 9-7 victory over Aeriel Ellis and Maggie Mello of Texas. The UNLV duo will next face seventh seeded and 29th-ranked Sasha Krupina and Caroline Lilley of Georgia Tech on Wednesday.

Also falling in singles play was 72nd-ranked Lady Rebel senior Jana Albers, who lost to Alicia Aguilar of San Diego State, 6-3, 6-4.

The elite event runs through Sunday at the Riviera Tennis Club.