LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV women's tennis team suffered a gut-wrenching 4-3 defeat to UTEP on a breezy Saturday morning at the Fertitta Tennis Complex.

Playing earlier than scheduled because of high winds in the forecast, the Rebels fell to 2-3 while the Miners picked up their first victory in their fourth outing of the season.

UTEP opened by taking the all-important doubles point by coming back from a 4-1 deficit on court three to win 7-5 in the clincher.

In singles, however, the Rebels raced to a 3-1 lead with a trio of straight-set victories from Izumi Asano at No. 1, En-Pei Huang at No. 2 and Zita Kovacs on court four.

UNLV also took the first set on two other courts but both Connie Li and Sam Smith allowed their opponents to rally for wins along with another three-setter on court six from Aura Fang.
 

REBEL OF THE MATCH: Izumi Asano teamed with En-Pei Huang for a 6-4 doubles win at the top of the lineup and then cruised past Vanessa Valdez, 6-1, 6-2, in singles play.

UP NEXT: UNLV is off until hosting NAU on March 12. At this time, no fans are allowed at the Fertitta Tennis Complex.

Women's Tennis Match Results
UTEP 4, UNLV 3
Feb. 20, 2021, at Las Vegas
(Fertitta Tennis Complex)

 Singles competition
1. Izumi Asano (UNLV) def. Valdez, Vanessa (UTEP) 6-1, 6-2
2. En-Pei Huang (UNLV) def. Abrahim, Thassane (UTEP) 6-3, 6-1
3. Martinez, Erandi (UTEP) def. Connie Li (UNLV) 3-6, 6-4, 6-2
4. Zita Kovacs (UNLV) def. Lebisova, Veronika (UTEP) 6-3, 6-2
5. Percegona, Kathleen (UTEP) def. Sam Smith (UNLV) 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5)
6. Dibattista, Elena (UTEP) def. Aura Fang (UNLV) 6-4, 6-7 (3-7), 6-1

 Doubles competition
1. #13 Izumi Asano/En-Pei Huang (UNLV) def. Valdez, Vanessa/Daniels, Eve (UTEP) 6-4
2. Abrahim, Thassane/Lebisova, Veronika (UTEP) def. Connie Li/Sam Smith (UNLV) 6-4
3. Percegona, Kathleen/Bonilla, Lyric (UTEP) def. Olivia Elliott/Zita Kovacs (UNLV) 7-5

Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (2,4,1,3,6,5)