Box Score

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV men's tennis team emerged victorious from an epic doubles battle and then finished off NAU in singles play for a 5-2 victory Tuesday at the Fertitta Tennis Complex.

By winning for the fifth time in the last six outings, the Rebels improved to 9-5 overall and 8-3 at home while the Lumberjacks of the Big Sky Conference fell to 6-9.

To start the morning, the visitors were leading on all three doubles courts at one point but the Rebels managed to force a tiebreaker â€" remarkably -- in all three. The teams split the bottom two matches, which forced all eyes to the top of the lineup where Alexandr Cozbinov and Courtney Lock won their tiebreaker 7-5 in the 7-6 point-clincher.

In singles, UNLV won four of six matchups, including three in straight sets.

REBEL OF THE MATCH: One of three seniors, Ruben Alberts returned from injury and looked solid, sweeping Thomas Fisher on court three, 6-2, 6-3, to post his first singles victory since February 3.

NET NOTE: They did it Tuesday by the thinnest of margins but the Rebels have won the doubles point in nine straight matches.

QUOTABLE: "That was the closest doubles point I've been a part of. NAU had us on the ropes but the guys managed to stay tough and get the point. Singles was a battle as well today."

-Head Coach Owen Hambrook

NEXT FOR THE REBELS: UNLV will hit the road for the first time in over a month when it plays at MW rival Utah State Saturday followed by a non-conference affair at BYU Monday.

Men's Tennis Match ResultsUNLV 5, NORTHERN ARIZONA 2March 20, 2018 at Las Vegas, NV(Fertitta Tennis Complex)
 Singles competition 1. #85 Alexandr Cozbinov (UNLV) def. Tim Handel (NAU) 6-3, 6-22. Lucas Taylor (NAU) def. Courtney Lock (UNLV) 6-4, 6-03. Ruben Alberts (UNLV) def. Thomas Fisher (NAU) 6-2, 6-34. Eric Samuelsson (UNLV) def. Felix Schumann (NAU) 6-2, 2-6, 6-25. Ruben Montano (NAU) def. Richard Solberg (UNLV) 6-7, 6-4, 1-0 (10-8)6. Jordan Sauer (UNLV) def. Chris Steele (NAU) 6-1, 6-1

 Doubles competition 1. Alexandr Cozbinov/Courtney Lock (UNLV) def. Tim Handel/Thomas Fisher (NAU) 7-6 (5)2. Eric Samuelsson/Clayton Alenik (UNLV) def. Adi Zilberstein/Lucas Taylor (NAU) 7-6 (6)3. Felix Schumann/Ruben Montano (NAU) def. Richard Solberg/Jordan Sauer (UNLV) 7-6 (5)
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (6,3,2,1,4,5)