Sept. 12, 2012

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV women's team boasts a doubles pairing as well as two singles players in the preseason Campbell's ITA College Tennis Rankings for the first time since 2007.

Junior Lucia Batta (31-9 last season), who was ranked 95th a year ago at this time, will begin the fall tournament season at No. 43 in the nation. That's the highest preseason singles ranking by a UNLV player since former All-American Elena Gantcheva started at No. 13 in 2006.

Also, fellow-junior Aleksandra Josifoska (29-13) is up to No. 89 this fall after starting last season at No. 117.

The Lady Rebel doubles team of Josifoska and senior Nives Pavlovic (12-9) is ranked No. 26 in the preseason. That is the highest fall ranking for a UNLV duo since Gantcheva and Kristina Nedeltcheva broke the school record with a No. 5 ranking in 2007.

Head coach Kevin Cory's team opens its fall slate later this month when its hosts the UNLV Fall Invitational from Sept 21-23 at the Fertitta Tennis Complex.