Box Score

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV women's tennis team lost its opening match at the Mountain West Conference Championship for the first time since 2001 with a tough 4-3 defeat to Utah State on Wednesday at the McKinnon Family Tennis Stadium.

The 11th-seeded Rebels closed their season with an overall record of 7-17 while the sixth-seeded Aggies claimed their first-ever win at this event and moved on to play San Jose State in Friday's next round.

In what was the first meeting of the season between these two programs, the first-rounder turned into a thriller. USU took an early lead by winning the first two completed doubles matches to take the point.

Moving to singles play, UNLV rallied to build a 3-2 lead. Iren Kotseva sprinted by Sabrina Demerath, 6-2, 6-2, at the fourth position; Alexis Garrett downed Lexi Turley, 6-4, 6-2, at No. 5; and Paola Artiga got by Kallie Sperry, 6-2, 7-6 (6), on court three.

The Aggies, however, won the day's only three-setter at the sixth spot and then clinched it at No. 2 when Nini Guensler finished off Santa Shumilina, 6-1, 7-6.

UNLV WOMEN'S TENNIS RESULTSMOUNTAIN WEST CHAMPIONSHIP - FIRST ROUND(6) UTAH STATE 4, (11) UNLV 3April 22, 2015, at Albuquerque, NM(McKinnon Family Tennis Stadium)
Singles competition 1. DAVIS, McKenzie (USU) def. Anett Ferenczi-Bako (UNLV) 7-5, 6-22. GUENSLER, Nini (USU) def. Santa Shumilina (UNLV) 6-1, 7-6 (7-1)3. Paola Artiga (UNLV) def. SPERRY, Kallie (USU) 6-2, 7-6 (8-6)4. Iren Kotseva (UNLV) def. DEMERATH, Sabrina (USU) 6-2, 6-25. Alexis Garrett (UNLV) def. TURLEY, Lexi (USU) 6-4, 6-26. LYALL, Meghan (USU) def. Mercedes Lopez Valez (UNLV) 2-6, 6-3, 6-3
Doubles competition 1. DAVIS, McKenzie/O'MEARA, Maggie (USU) def. Ferenczi-Bako/Lopez Valez (UNLV) 6-42. SPERRY, Kallie/LYALL, Meghan (USU) vs. Santa Shumilina/Paola Artiga (UNLV) 3-5, unfinished3. GUENSLER, Nini/TURLEY, Lexi (USU) def. Alexis Garrett/Iren Kotseva (UNLV) 6-4Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (4,5,1,3,6,2)