Feb. 4, 2011
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The 68th-ranked UNLV men's tennis team shook off a slow start to defeat New Mexico State 5-2 on Friday at the Fertitta Tennis Complex.
The Rebels improved to 4-2 on the season while the Aggies fell to 1-3.
The teams split the first two completed doubles matches before NMSU won 9-8 at the top spot to capture the early 1-0 lead. Winning for UNLV was the duo of Alex Bull and Rene Ruegamer, 8-1, over Arthur Surreaux and Felipe Frattini.
Moving to singles play, UNLV lost the first set on half of the six courts before finally waking up in time to avoid the upset.
Senior leader Mehdi Bouras picked up another ranked win, 6-3, 6-1 over No. 74 Arthur Surreaux at the top of the lineup and Bull breezed by Frattini 6-2, 6-2 on court six.
The final three points did not come easily, however. Johannes Markel rallied past Jim Brouleau 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 at No. 2; Tamas Batyi slipped by Orlando Superlano 1-6, 6-2, 7-6 at No. 3 and Ruegamer closed out the scoring with a 6-7, 6-3, 6-2 victory over Matej Stakne at the fourth position.
"We started off way too passive and let the doubles point slip away this morning," said UNLV head coach Owen Hambrook. "We also got off to a slow start in singles but in the end everyone fought hard and got it done against a good New Mexico State team."
UNLV is next in action on Saturday when it hosts Southern Miss beginning with doubles at 10 a.m. Admission to all matches is free of charge.
UNLV Men's Tennis Match Results#68 UNLV 5, NEW MEXICO STATE 2Feb. 4, 2011 at Las Vegas(Fertitta Tennis Complex)
Singles competition1. Mehdi Bouras (UNLV) def. #74 Arthur Surreaux (NMSU) 6-2, 6-32. Johannes Markel (UNLV) def. Jim Brouleau (NMSU) 3-6, 6-4, 6-33. Tamas Batyi (UNLV) def. Orlando Superlano (NMSU) 1-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-4)4. Rene Ruegamer (UNLV) def. Matej Stakne (NMSU) 6-7 (1-7), 6-3, 6-25. Luis Ramirez (NMSU) def. Bernard Schoeman (UNLV) 6-2, 3-6, 6-36. Alex Bull (UNLV) def. Felipe Frattini (NMSU) 6-2, 6-2
Doubles competition1. Jim Brouleau/Matej Stakne (NMSU) def. Bernard Schoeman/Mehdi Bouras (UNLV) 9-8 (9-7)2. Orlando Superlano/Luis Ramirez (NMSU) def. Johannes Markel/Tamas Batyi (UNLV) 8-63. Alex Bull/Rene Ruegamer (UNLV) def. Arthur Surreaux/Felipe Frattini (NMSU) 8-1
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (1,6,5,2,3,4)
