March 31, 2013

Results

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - After building a 3-0 lead, the 73rd-ranked UNLV men's tennis team saw its eight-match winning streak snapped 4-3 by No. 45 San Diego State in a key Mountain West match at the Fertitta Tennis Complex on Sunday.

The Rebels, who lost for the first time in 13 home matches this season, dropped to 13-5 overall and 1-1 in the conference while the Aztecs improved to 13-6 and took control of the league race at 3-0.

The hosts began the day by taking two of three doubles matches to earn a 1-0 lead. Ace Matias and Bernard Schoeman downed Thorsten Bertsch and Hunter Nicholas, 8-5, at the top spot before Gilad Berman and Carlos Di Laura clinched it with an 8-4 win over Derek Siddiqui and Andranik Khachatryan on court two.

In singles play, the Rebels won the first two completed matches to make it 3-0. Matias opened by upsetting 97th-ranked Siddiqui, 6-4, 6-4, at the top of the lineup while Gilad Berman fought off Nicholas, 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 at the third position.

The Aztecs, however, would take all four of the remaining matches, including three that went a full three sets, to squeak out the win and hand UNLV its first loss at Fertitta since April 10, 2012.

"Certainly a frustrating loss today," UNLV head coach Owen Hambrook said. "I feel like we let it slip away but hats off to San Diego State on the rally."

With their eight-match homestand now complete, the Rebels will prepare to play their first MW road match on Friday at New Mexico.

Men's Tennis Match Results#45 SAN DIEGO STATE 4, #73 UNLV 3March 31, 2013, at Las Vegas, NV(Fertitta Tennis Complex)
Singles competition 1. Ace Matias (UNLV) def. #97 Derek Siddiqui (SDSU) 6-4, 6-42. Thorsten Bertsch (SDSU) def. Tamas Batyi (UNLV) 7-5, 7-53. Gilad Berman (UNLV) def. Hunter Nicholas (SDSU) 6-4, 1-6, 6-44. Marvin Tawasi (SDSU) def. Charlie Alvarado (UNLV) 3-6, 7-5, 6-15. Juan Florez (SDSU) def. Johannes Markel (UNLV) 6-2, 6-7 (5), 6-26. Andranik Khachatryan (SDSU) def. Carlos Di Laura (UNLV) 3-6, 6-3, 6-3Doubles competition 1. Ace Matias/Bernard Schoeman (UNLV) def. Bertsch/Nicholas (SDSU) 8-62. Johannes Markel/Tamas Batyi (UNLV) def. Siddiqui/Khachatryan (SDSU) 8-43. Florez/Tawasi (SDSU) def. Gilad Berman/Carlos Di Laura (UNLV) 8-5ORDER OF FINISH--Singles: 1,3,6,2,4,5 Doubles: 1,2,3