MALIBU, Calif. (UNLVRebels.com) – With a memorable background of the Pacific Ocean, the UNLV women's tennis team continued its preparations to face traditional power USC in Friday's NCAA Women's Tennis Championship First Round on the campus of Pepperdine University.
The 2023 Mountain West Tournament Champion Rebels (19-3 overall), who won an automatic bid to their 14th NCAA appearance, are the third seed in the four-team regional while the No. 28 Trojans (19-9) are seeded second after earning an at-large bid out of the Pac-12 Conference.
UNLV, which was ousted from this national tournament by USC in two straight trips (2016 and '19), has never defeated the Trojans in eight all-time meetings. The two western programs will meet again starting at 10 a.m. at Ralphs-Straus Tennis Stadium and the Rebels are hoping history does not repeat itself.
"Our players are excited to be here and have had a great week of preparation," said UNLV assistant coach
Tetiana Luzhanska, who is overseeing the team on the postseason trip. "We're looking forward to coming out tomorrow and being aggressive and trying to set the tone early against the Trojans."
Fans can visit
Tournament Central to follow live scoring and video.
The winner of the early match will advance to face the winner of an afternoon match between WAC champion Grand Canyon (15-9) and top-seeded host Pepperdine (18-3).
Using a 64-team format, the women's first and second rounds are scheduled to be held at 16 different campus sites. The champions of those regionals advance to the NCAA Super Regionals on eight campus sites May 12 or 13. Finally, the remaining eight teams will head to Orlando, Florida, for the finals at the USTA National Campus May 17-20. The singles and doubles portion of the tournament will take place May 21-27.
2023 NCAA WOMEN'S TENNIS FIRST-SECOND ROUNDS (At Malibu, CA/Host: Pepperdine)
May 5: First Round – 10 a.m.
#59 UNLV (19-3) vs. #28 USC (17-8)
First Round – 1 p.m.
Grand Canyon (15-9) vs. #7 Pepperdine (18-3)
May 6: Second Round – 1 p.m.
PREVIOUS UNLV WOMEN'S TENNIS NCAA APPEARANCES
2019 At Los Angeles (Host: USC)
Won 4-3 in first round over Texas Tech
Lost 4-0 in second round to USC
2016 At Malibu, CA (Host: Pepperdine)
Lost 4-0 in first round to USC
2013 At Lincoln, NE (Host: Nebraska)
Won 4-3 in first round over Tulsa
Lost 4-1 in second round to Nebraska
2011 At Los Angeles (Host: UCLA)
Lost 4-2 in first round to San Diego
2010 At Chapel Hill, NC (Host: North Carolina)
Won 4-3 in first round over Virginia Commonwealth
Lost 4-0 in second round to North Carolina
2009 At Los Angeles (Host: UCLA)
Lost 4-0 in first round to Arizona State
2008 At Los Angeles (Host: USC)
Lost 4-0 in first round to Pepperdine
2007 At Berkeley, CA (Host: California)
Lost 4-0 in first round to Arizona State
2005 At Austin, TX (Host: Texas)
Lost 4-0 in first round to Texas A&M
2003 At Seattle (Host: Washington)
Lost 4-0 in first round to Illinois
2002 At Los Angeles (Host: USC)
Lost 4-2 in first round to Oregon
1998 At Las Vegas (Host: UNLV)
Won 5-1 in first round over Washington State
Lost 5-2 in second round to Pepperdine
1997 At San Diego (Host: USD)
Lost 5-4 in first round to San Diego
