May 12, 2010

Live Scoring

With 36th-ranked UNLV now in Chapel Hill, N.C., preparing for Friday's first round of the 2010 NCAA Women's Tennis Championships, senior leader Kristina Nedeltcheva said she would love to help extend her team's season.

"We really look forward to playing in North Carolina," said Nedeltcheva, who recently became only the second woman in school history to be named first team all-conference in both singles and doubles in all four seasons on campus. "We've gone to the NCAAs every year of my career but it's always been in California so this will be a new experience. Hopefully we can make the trip last as long as possible."

UNLV, in fact, is looking to advance past the first round for the first time since 1998 when it downed Washington State 5-1 in Las Vegas. The Lady Rebels (21-4) will look to snap that seven-match NCAA losing streak when they face No. 25 Virginia Commonwealth (20-4) beginning at 7 a.m. PT. Fans can follow the action from Kone-Kenfield Tennis Center through live scoring available at unlvrebels.com.

The winner of that match will advance to Saturday's second round vs. the winner of second-ranked host North Carolina vs. Richmond. Champions of the 16 regionals being held across the country this weekend will advance to play at the Magill Tennis Center in Athens, Ga., beginning May 20.

This will mark the third consecutive season that UNLV and VCU have met on the tennis courts. The Rams won dual matches staged in Las Vegas both of the last two years. Kevin Cory, now in his 11th season at the school, has taken his team to the NCAAs seven times but is looking for his first victory at the annual event.

"Playing in the NCAA tournament against a top 25 opponent is both a big challenge and great incentive for this program," Cory said. "We've had two really close matches with VCU and we expect Friday's meeting will be no different."

While the third-seeded Lady Rebels received an at-large invite this spring, second seeded VCU earned an automatic bid by winning its third consecutive Colonial Athletic Association tournament title back on April 18. This will mark the Rams' fifth consecutive NCAA appearance and 10th overall.

Win or lose on Friday, Nedeltcheva's college career will last at least until the first round of the NCAA Singles Championships in Georgia at the end of the month.

2010 NCAA WOMEN'S TENNIS REGIONALS (At Chapel Hill, NC)May 14:Semifinal - 7 a.m. PT#36 UNLV (21-4) vs. #25 Virginia Commonwealth (20-4)
Semifinal - 10 a.m. PT#2 North Carolina (26-4) vs. Richmond (8-10)
May 15:Regional Final - 8 a.m. PT