SAN DIEGO (UNLVRebels.com) – UNLV women's tennis upset a ranked Mountain West opponent for the second time in six days by surprising No. 42 San Diego State 4-2 on Friday afternoon at the Aztec Tennis Center.
The Rebels improved to 13-3 overall and 5-2 in the league while the Aztecs saw their four-match win streak snapped in falling to 12-6 and 5-2.
UNLV earned an early 1-0 lead by eking out the doubles point. After being shut out at the top of the lineup, the Rebels saw Cindy Hu and Coco Zhao win 6-2 on court two and then Aura Fang and Zita Kovacs come through with the clincher in a marathon staged at the No. 3 position, 7-6 (11-9 in the tiebreaker).
The hosts stormed back in singles play, taking a 2-1 lead after two straight-setters. However, Fang evened things with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Andreea Velcea at No. 6; Aher got by Dariya Detkoyskaya, 7-5, 6-4, at No. 3; and Zhao closed it out with a come-from-behind win over Cecile Morin, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, that improved the sophomore's record to a sparkling 16-2 overall.
UP NEXT: UNLV plays its final away action of the regular season by taking on No. 67 Fresno State Saturday in San Diego starting at 10 a.m.
Women's Tennis Match Results
UNLV 4, #42 SAN DIEGO STATE 2
April 14, 2023, at San Diego, CA
(Aztec Tennis Center)
Singles competition
1. Andjela Skrobonja (SDSU) def. Molly Helgesson (UNLV-W) 6-3, 6-2
2. Tamara Arnold (SDSU) vs. Zita Kovacs (UNLV-W) 6-7, 6-2, 4-4, unfinished
3. Salsa Aher (UNLV-W) def. Dariya Detkovskaya (SDSU) 7-5, 6-4
4. Alicia Melosch (SDSU) def. Cindy Hu (UNLV-W) 6-1, 6-4
5. Coco Zhao (UNLV-W) def. Cecile Morin (SDSU) 4-6, 7-5, 6-3
6. Aura Fang (UNLV-W) def. Andreea Velcea (SDSU) 6-4, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Alicia Melosch/Dariya Detkovskaya (SDSU) def. Salsa Aher/Molly Helgesson (UNLV-W) 6-0
2. Cindy Hu/Coco Zhao (UNLV-W) def. Tamara Arnold/Andreea Velcea (SDSU) 6-2
3. Aura Fang/Zita Kovacs (UNLV-W) def. Cecile Morin/Rania Azziz (SDSU) 7-6 (11-9)
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (1,4,6,3,5)