LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - UNLV senior tennis star Jakob Amilon was one point away from an upset victory but ultimately dropped his first-rounder at the USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships in Flushing, New York, on Thursday.

Amilon, ranked 124th in the nation, lost the first set 7-5 to No. 45 Jose Salazar of Arkansas before rallying to take the second in a long tiebreaker, 7-6 (10-8). Amilon would eventually lead 5-4 in the third and was serving for the clinching point before Salazar came back to win three straight games and take the deciding set 7-5 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

Amilon now drops to the consolation bracket where he will face fifth-seeded and 37th-ranked Alfredo Perez of Florida on Friday. Perez was upended by Gage Brymer of UCLA in the first round, 6-4, 6-7, 6-2.

Now 6-3 in singles this season, Amilon earned his spot in the elite 32-player main draw by winning last month's ITA Mountain Regional title in Las Vegas. The native of Stockholm, Sweden, is the first UNLV men's player to appear at the indoor nationals since Henner Nehles in 2004.

2016 USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate ChampionshipsUSTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Flushing, NY
 First Round (Thursday)
SINGLES MAIN DRAW ROUND OF 32
#45 Jose Salazar (ARK) def. #124 Jakob Amilon (UNLV) 7-5, 6-7 (8), 7-5