LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV women's tennis team captured its league-record seventh Mountain West Tournament Championship, 4-1 over Air Force, on a hot Saturday afternoon at the Darling Tennis Center. The win, which came with an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship, also gave longtime head coach
Kevin Cory his 13th overall league title when combined with six regular-season crowns.
Making their sixth straight appearance in a MW Final, the second-seeded and 59th-ranked Rebels won their eighth straight overall match to improve to 19-3 while the fourth-seeded Falcons, who were making their first-ever appearance, dropped to 12-12.
The Falcons came in having won the doubles point in 12 straight matches, including when the two teams met during the regular season (also a 4-1 UNLV victory), but the story started differently this time around as two Rebel duos claimed 6-3 victories to earn the team point. Molly Helgesson and Salsa Aher downed Sydney Fitch and Alexis Odom at the top spot and Coco Zhao and Cindy Hu doubled up Abby Cotuna and Isabella Flodin at the second position to raise their record in duals to an eye-popping 18-1.
UNLV used that momentum to take the first set on all six singles courts before Air Force eventually rallied. Aher was first off with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Odom at No. 3 and then Helgeson wrapped up a sweep of Fitch, 6-3, 6-3, at the top of the lineup. The Falcons, however, won the second set on three courts and got on the board with a three-setter at No. 5. With both sides tussling in a third set on a pair of matches, it would be sophomore Hu to earn the clincher for the Rebels, downing Swift on court four, 7-6, 6-3, and setting off the hometown celebration.
"Great start for us in doubles but we knew Air Force could make a run and they did," said Cory. "I am really proud of our players for withstanding the charge and finishing it out strong. Our team had an incredible week here to add to what has been a memorable season so far.
"I want to thank our administration for their constant support as they provide us everything needed to be a consistently competitive program. Special thanks to all the support staff at UNLV who work with our program because they are a huge part of this championship. I'm excited to see where we will go to compete at the NCAAs."
Since the event's inception in 2000, Cory has led his program to a sparkling 42-15 record in MW tournament play as he continued adding to his league-record career win total. The Rebels, in fact, have now won three more MW tourneys than any other school.
UP NEXT: UNLV will learn its destination in the 64-team NCAA women's tennis field on Monday at 3 p.m. PT. First and Second Round action begins next weekend at 16 four-team sites across the country.
2023 Mountain West Women's Tennis Championship Final
Women's Tennis Match Results
#59 (2) UNLV 4, (4) AIR FORCE 1
April 29, 2023, at Las Vegas
(Darling Tennis Center)
Singles competition
1.
Molly Helgesson (UNLV) def. Sydney Fitch (AF) 6-3, 6-4
2.
Zita Kovacs (UNLV) vs. Isabella Flodin (AF) 6-2, 4-6, 4-4, unfinished
3.
Salsa Aher (UNLV) def. Alexis Odom (AF) 6-3, 6-2
4.
Cindy Hu (UNLV) def. Courtney Swift (AF) 7-6 (7-4), 6-3
5. Abby Cotuna (AF) def.
Coco Zhao (UNLV) 2-6, 6-1, 6-1
6.
Aura Fang (UNLV) vs. Arianna Van Houwelin (AF) 7-5, 3-6, 1-0, unfinished
Doubles competition
1.
Molly Helgesson/
Salsa Aher (UNLV) def. Sydney Fitch/Alexis Odom (AF) 6-3
2.
Cindy Hu/
Coco Zhao (UNLV) def. Abby Cotuna/Isabella Flodin (AF) 6-3
3.
Zita Kovacs/
Aura Fang (UNLV) vs. Courtney Swift/Arianna Van Houwelin (AF) 4-4, unfinished
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (3,1,5,4)
