April 20, 2011

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - A pair of dramatic victories on Sunday by UNLV's Jana Albers helped the senior earn Mountain West Conference Women's Tennis Co-Player of the Week honors, the league announced Wednesday.

Albers, who shared this week's award with Utah's Anastasia Putilina, also won the honor back on January 26 and as a junior on April 14, 2010. The former Nebraska transfer is one of a program-record three Lady Rebels to bring home a combined five such awards this season (Aleksandra Josifoska - twice - and Lucia Batta were the others).

Albers went 3-0 in singles play over the weekend to help UNLV sweep a trio of key matches and secure the regular-season MWC regular-season championship outright. In last Friday's 4-3 win over Utah, Albers recorded a straight-set victory over Paige Miles, 6-3, 7-5, at the No. 5 singles position. The senior returned to the court against BYU on Saturday, helping the Rebels knock off the Cougars 6-1 with a straight-setter over Liza Ezhova, 6-3, 7-5.

On Sunday, Albers put together two comeback performances to help UNLV fight off San Diego State 4-3 and finish 8-0 vs. league foes. First, in doubles action, Albers and partner Adrienn Hidvegi won seven straight games to rally from a 7-2 deficit and down Emma Cioffi and Julia Trunk 9-7 to clinch the first point of the match for the Rebels. In singles competition, Albers trailed Sierra Ellison, 5-2, in the third set before rallying to notch a 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) victory. The 39th-ranked Lady Rebels (19-4 overall/8-0 MWC) will be the top seed in next week's MWC Championship Tournament in Fort Collins, Colo.