PALO ALTO, Calif. (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV women's tennis team opened its 2024 dual-match season with a 4-1 loss to Maryland in Friday's first round of the ITA Kickoff Weekend being hosted at the Taube Family Tennis Stadium on the campus of Stanford.
 
The Terrapins, who improved to 3-0 on the young season, had to rally for the victory as UNLV took a 1-0 lead after doubles play. With competitive matches on all three courts, the Rebel duo of Zita Kovacs and Hanna Vinahradava won 6-4 over Maria Budin and Minorka Miranda at the top position. Cindy Hu and Coco Zhao then won by the same score on the second court over Diya Challa and Ela Platenikov to clinch the point.
 
Maryland dominated singles play, however, winning all but one completed set and taking straight-setters on the top two and bottom two courts. Vinahradava did win her first set vs. Budin at No. 4 and was deep in the second stanza when the match was halted.
 
The Rebels will now face Colorado in the consolation match on Saturday at 11 a.m. The Buffs fell to host Stanford 4-1 in Friday's other match.
 
2024 ITA Kickoff Weekend First Round
Women's Tennis Match Results
MARYLAND 4, UNLV 1
Jan. 26, 2024, at Palo Alto, CA
(Taube Family Tennis Stadium)

Singles competition
1. Minorka Miranda (MD) def. Zita Kovacs (UNLV) 6-1, 6-4
2. Kallista Liu (MD) def. Salsa Aher (UNLV) 6-1, 6-1
3. Mary Brumfield (MD) vs. Cindy Hu (UNLV) 7-6, 3-1, unfinished
4. Maria Budin (MD) vs. Hanna Vinahradava (UNLV) 3-6, 6-5, unfinished
5. Diya Challa (MD) def. Coco Zhao (UNLV) 6-2, 6-1
6. Francesca Feodorov (MD) def. Aura Fang (UNLV) 6-1, 6-3
 
 Doubles competition
1. Zita Kovacs/Hanna Vinahradava (UNLV) def. Maria Budin/Minorka Miranda (MD) 6-4
2. Cindy Hu/Coco Zhao (UNLV) def. Diya Challa/Ela Platenikova (MD) 6-4
3. Kallista Liu/Mary Brumfield (MD) vs. Salsa Aher/Aura Fang (UNLV) 5-5, unfinished
 
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (5,1,2,6)