Box Score

LOS ANGELES (UNLVRebels.com) - Alexandr Cozbinov upset the No. 1 ranked player in college tennis as part of Saturday's impressive effort by the UNLV men's tennis team in a 5-2 loss at seventh-ranked UCLA.

Playing at the LA Tennis Center, the Rebels fell to 4-3 while the Bruins improved to 7-1.

UNLV surprised the Pac-12 Conference powerhouse by earning the doubles point for a 1-0 lead. The teams split matches at the top and bottom of the lineup but the Rebel duo of Eric Samuelsson and Clayton Alenik gutted out a tiebreaker to down Ben Goldberg and Austin Rapp, 7-6 (7-4), on court two to give the visitors the early advantage.

Moving to singles play, UNLV was competitive on nearly every court against a lineup that featured three ranked players.

REBEL OF THE MATCH: Cozbinov, a senior who is currently unranked, jumped on No. 1 Martin Redlicki to take the first set, and, after dropping the second, finished the Bruins' star off for the monumental upset, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.

NET NOTE: The Rebels have won the doubles point in two straight road matches vs. Power Five Conference opponents.

QUOTABLE: "The guys played a great doubles point today with energy and composure. Everyone battled hard in singles too. We had more opportunities at spots and I am proud of the fight that this team has shown. It was great to see Alex win over the No. 1 player in college tennis. He has been working hard and it showed today."

-Head Coach Owen Hambrook

NEXT FOR THE REBELS: UNLV will open Mountain West play Friday at home vs. San Diego State. Doubles start at 4 p.m. and admission is always free of charge.

Tennis Match Results
#7 UCLA 5, UNLV 2
Feb 10, 2018 at Los Angeles, CA
(Los Angeles Tennis Center)
  Singles competition 1. Alexandr Cozbinov (UNLV) def. #1 Martin Redlicki (UCLA) 6-3, 4-6, 6-32. #107 Keegan Smith (UCLA) def. Ruben Alberts (UNLV) 6-3, 6-7 (4-7), 6-43. Evan Zhu (UCLA) def. Courtney Lock (UNLV) 6-3, 6-44. #58 Logan Staggs (UCLA) def. Eric Samuelsson (UNLV) 6-3, 7-6 (7-2)5. Maxime Cressy (UCLA) def. Richard Solberg (UNLV) 7-5, 6-36. Connor Hance (UCLA) def. Jordan Sauer (UNLV) 6-4, 6-0
  Doubles competition 1. Martin Redlicki/Evan Zhu (UCLA) def. Alexandr Cozbinov/Courtney Lock (UNLV) 6-32. Eric Samuelsson/Clayton Alenik (UNLV) def. Ben Goldberg/Austin Rapp (UCLA) 7-6 (7-4)3. Jordan Sauer/Ruben Alberts (UNLV) def. Bryce Pereira/Maxime Cressy (UCLA) 6-4
 Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (6,4,5,3,2,1)