LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – Christopher Bulus made the most of his Rebel dual-match debut by upsetting the nation's No. 11 singles player, which proved to be the deciding point in a thrilling 4-3 UNLV men's tennis victory over Hawai'i in the chilly but sunny season-opener Friday at the Fertitta Tennis Complex.
Bulus, a senior who transferred in from Western Alabama after finishing ranked fourth in Division II last season, faced off with Andre Ilagan a dominant player in the Big West Conference who is currently the highest-ranked player in Hawai'i history. Bulus built a 5-2 lead in the opening set before Ilagan rallied to win it in a tiebreaker. Bulus refused to lose, however, as the native of Nigeria took the second set in a tiebreaker and, after the teams were tied at 3, persevered with a third-set win as both players battled cramping in the 6-7 (4), 7-6 (4), 6-1 final.
Earlier, UNLV sprinted to a 1-0 lead by taking the first two completed doubles matches. Milos Dabic and Zac Brodney won 6-2 on court two and Bulus teamed with Jordan Sauer for a 6-3 victory at the bottom of the lineup.
Moving to singles, Brodney zoomed by Axel Labunie, 6-4, 6-0, at the third position and Zach Garner downed Karl Collins, 6-3, 6-4, at No. 5 to give the Rebels their next two points and eventually set up the top-court clincher.
REBEL OF THE MATCH: Bulus, when including his fall tournament results, improved to 6-1 as a Rebel with his Friday heroics.
QUOTABLE: "Really a tough match today against a very good Hawaii team. It took a total team effort from doubles through singles. There were lots of momentum changes and it ended with Chris beating one of the best players in the country."
--UNLV Head Coach Owen Hambrook
UP NEXT: UNLV plays a doubleheader on Saturday, hosting New Mexico State starting at 10 a.m. and then facing UC Riverside at 2 p.m.
Men's Tennis Match Results
UNLV 4, HAWAI'I 3
Jan. 28, 2022, at Las Vegas
(Fertitta Tennis Complex)
Singles competition
1. Christopher Bulus (UNLV) def. #11 Andre Ilagan (UH) 6-7 (4), 7-6 (4), 6-1
2. Blaz Seric (UH) def. Jordan Sauer (UNLV) 6-2, 6-2
3. Zac Brodney (UNLV) def. Axel Labunie (UH) 6-4, 6-0
4. Simao Telo Alves (UH) def. Milos Dabic (UNLV) 7-5, 7-6 (8-6)
5. Zach Garner (UNLV) def. Karl Collins (UH) 6-3, 6-4
6. Guillaume Tattevin (UH) def. Anton Ornberg (UNLV) 6-1, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. Jackson Atherton/Anton Ornberg (UNLV) vs. Andre Ilagan/Axel Labunie (UH) 4-4, unfinished
2. Milos Dabic/Zac Brodney (UNLV) def. Karl Collins/Simao Telo Alves (UH) 6-3
3. Christopher Bulus/Jordan Sauer (UNLV) def. Kilian Maitre/Andy Hernandez (UH) 6-3
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (3,6,2,5,4,1)
