LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – Playing without its top player, the UNLV women's tennis team lost for the first time in 2023, 4-3, at the hands of Indiana on a cool but sunny St. Patrick's Day Friday at the Fertitta Tennis Complex.
 
The Rebels, who were staging their final non-conference match of the season, fell to 8-1 on the year while the Hoosiers of the Big Ten Conference improved to 10-5.
 
Indiana was forced to rally in the match as UNLV took the doubles point to open things up. Cindy Hu and Coco Zhao won 6-1 on court two and Nina Zdrakvovic and Salsa Aher won by the same score at the third spot to clinch it.
 
The Hoosiers would build a 3-1 lead in singles play and hold on for the victory. Scoring for the home team was Aher, who downed Saby Nihalani, 6-7, 6-2, 6-4, on court two; and Zhao, 6-4, 0-6, 7-6, over Alexandria Staiculesc, at No. 4.
 
NEXT FOR THE REBELS: UNLV will open Mountain West play by hosting Air Force on March 25 starting with doubles play at 1 p.m. Admission to all matches is free of charge.
 
Women's Tennis Match Results
INDIANA 4, UNLV 3
March 17, 2023, at Las Vegas, NV
(Fertitta Tennis Complex)

 Singles competition
1. Lara Schneider (INDW) def. Zita Kovacs (UNLV-W) 6-0, 2-6, 7-5
2. Salsa Aher (UNLV-W) def. Saby Nihalani (INDW) 6-7, 6-2, 6-4
3. Mila Mejic (INDW) def. Cindy Hu (UNLV-W) 6-2, 6-4
4. Coco Zhao (UNLV-W) def. Alexandra Staiculesc (INDW) 6-4, 0-6, 7-6
5. Nicole Teodosescu (INDW) def. Aura Fang (UNLV-W) 6-1, 6-0
6. Xiaowei "Rose" Hu (INDW) def. Nina Zdravkovic (UNLV-W) 6-2, 6-2
 
 Doubles competition
1. Aura Fang/Zita Kovacs (UNLV-W) vs. Lara Schneider/Saby Nihalani (INDW) 3-4, unfinished
2. Cindy Hu/Coco Zhao (UNLV-W) def. Mila Mejic/Nicole Teodosescu (INDW) 6-1
3. Nina Zdravkovic/Salsa Aher (UNLV-W) def. Alexandra Staiculesc/Xiaowei "Rose" Hu (INDW) 6-1
 
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (5,3,6,1,4,2)