April 9, 2011

Box Score

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (UNLVRebels.com) - The 48th-ranked UNLV women's tennis team was forced indoors because of high winds in New Mexico but held on for a key 4-3 league victory over No. 61 TCU in a neutral-site match at the Lobo Tennis Club.

The Lady Rebels improved to 15-4 overall and 4-0 in the MWC while the Horned Frogs fell to 7-9 (2-2).

UNLV began the morning by sweeping three doubles matches in impressive fashion for one team point. Nives Pavlovic and Aleksandra Josifoska doubled up Katarina Tuohimaa and Gaby Mastromarino 8-4 at the top spot; Lucia Batta and Anna Maskaljun downed Idunn Hertzberg and Maria Babanova 8-3 at No. 2; and Adrienn Hidvegi and Jana Albers got by Shalini Sahoo and Olivia Smith 8-6 at No. 3.

In singles play, UNLV got quick victories from two of its seniors. Hidvegi swept Hertzberg 7-5, 6-3 at the fourth position and Maskaljun improved to a stunning 18-1 in duals this spring with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Babanova on court six.

TCU rallied to win three points to tie things and ensure it would come down to the No. 2 slot where Josifoska was battling back against Mastromarino. Josifoska dropped the first set and was down in the second before rallying for a 0-6, 7-5, 6-1 match-clinching win to improve her eye-popping freshman record to 20-3 overall and 15-1 in dual matches.

"Today was another big battle with TCU and every year we know we have to get by them to have a chance at winning the conference championship," said UNLV head coach Kevin Cory. "Playing indoors for the first time this season and at altitude were big adjustments for us but I think the girls handled it really well today."

Next up, UNLV will face host New Mexico on Sunday beginning at 1 p.m. PT.

Women's Tennis Match Results#48 UNLV 4, #61 TCU 3April 9, 2011 at Albuquerque, NM(Lobo Tennis Club (Indoors)
Singles competition1. Katarina Tuohimaa (TCU) def. #110 Lucia Batta (UNLV) 6-3, 6-12. Aleksandra Josifoska (UNLV) def. Gaby Mastromarino (TCU) 0-6, 7-5, 6-13. Olivia Smith (TCU) def. Nives Pavlovic (UNLV) 6-1, 7-64. Adrienn Hidvegi (UNLV) def. Idunn Hertzberg (TCU) 7-5, 6-35. Shalini Sahoo (TCU) def. Jana Albers (UNLV) 6-3, 7-56. Anna Maskaljun (UNLV) def. Maria Babanova (TCU) 6-1, 6-3
Doubles competition1. Aleksandra Josifoska/Nives Pavlovic (UNLV) def. Katarina Tuohimaa/Gaby Mastromarino (TCU) 8-42. Lucia Batta/Anna Maskaljun (UNLV) def. Idunn Hertzberg/Maria Babanova (TCU) 8-33. Adrienn Hidvegi/Jana Albers (UNLV) def. Shalini Sahoo/Olivia Smith (TCU) 8-6