March 2, 2014

Box Score

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - Playing in front of a special guest, the UNLV women's tennis team moved back over the .500 mark Sunday afternoon with a 6-1 victory over Utah State at the Fertitta Tennis Complex.

The Lady Rebels improved to 5-4 while the Aggies fell to 7-4. The day also saw head coach Kevin Cory and his team welcome one the program's best ever back to campus as longtime professional player Jolene Watanabe was on hand. Watanabe, who starred for the Rebels from 1987-90, was the first UNLV women's player to earn a spot in the NCAA Singles Tournament and would leave as her school's all-time wins leader in both singles and doubles.

UNLV opened the morning by winning two doubles matches for one team point. Lucia Batta and Santa Shumilina downed McKenzie Davis and Kallie Sperry 8-1 at the top spot while Aleksandra Josifoska and Iren Kotseva doubled up Amber and Ashley Stuhlmann 8-4 on court three. The final match was then halted.

In singles, Batta, ranked 46th in the nation, moved to within one win of third place on the school's all-time list with her 111th career singles victory, 6-2, 6-2 over Davis at the No. 1 position. Fellow-senior Josifoska fought off Sperry 7-6, 6-1 at No 2; Kotseva downed Turley 7-6, 6-3 at No. 4; Anett Ferenczi-Bako swept Amber Stuhlmann 6-1, 6-2 at No. 5; and Paola Artiga downed Ashley Stuhlmann 6-2, 6-0 on court six.

Next up, UNLV will host 13th-ranked Michigan on Wednesday. Doubles begin at 10 a.m. and admission is free of charge.

UNLV WOMEN'S TENNIS RESULTSUNLV 6, UTAH STATE 1March 2, 2014, at Las Vegas, NV(Fertitta Tennis Complex)
Singles competition1. #46 Lucia Batta (UNLV) def. McKenzie Davis (USU) 6-2, 6-22. Aleksandra Josifoska (UNLV) def. Kallie Sperry (USU) 7-6, 6-13. Nini Guensler (USU) def. Santa Shumilina (UNLV) 6-1, 7-54. Iren Kotseva (UNLV) def. Lexi Turley (USU) 7-6, 6-35. Anett Ferenczi-Bako (UNLV) def. Amber Stuhlmann (USU) 6-1, 6-26. Paola Artiga (UNLV) def. Ashley Stuhlmann (USU) 6-2, 6-0
Doubles competition1. Lucia Batta/Santa Shumilina (UNLV) def. McKenzie Davis/Kallie Sperry (USU) 8-12. Kamelia Dimitrova/Anett Ferenczi-Bako (UNLV) vs. Nini Guensler/Lexi Turley (USU) unfinished3. Aleksandra Josifoska/Iren Kotseva (UNLV) def. Amber Stuhlmann/Ashley Stuhlmann (USU) 8-4