Feb. 5, 2010
Box Score
LAS VEGAS - One day after falling out of the national rankings, the UNLV men's tennis team responded by posting its best victory of the season, 5-2 over No. 68 New Mexico State, on an overcast Friday at the Fertitta Tennis Complex.
The Rebels improved to 4-1 with their fourth consecutive win while the Aggies fell to 1-1.
UNLV started out in the morning by winning two of three doubles matches to earn the key opening point. Mehdi Bouras and Luca Barlocchi won 8-2 at the top position while the freshman duo of Johannes Markel and Bernard Schoeman won 8-3 at No. 3.
In singles play, the hosts picked up a big victory at the top of the lineup when super sophomore Bouras, who upset 56th-ranked Jim Brouleau 7-6, 6-0 to improve to 16-7 on the season.
Barlocchi, ranked 102nd, finished off Gustave Diep at the second position 6-3, 7-6 and Markel eased by Orlando Superlano 6-3, 6-4. After the team match was decided, the remaining contest on court five ended with a super-tiebreaker and Kasper Konyves outlasting Matej Stakne 6-7, 7-6, 1-0 (11-9).
"New Mexico State is a very dangerous team who beat us in Las Vegas last season," said UNLV head coach Owen Hambrook. "However, the guys responded to the challenge and got the job done in a tight match. There are still areas we need to improve on but we look forward to getting back out there tomorrow."
UNLV returns to action Saturday when it hosts UC Riverside beginning at 10 a.m. Admission is free of charge.
