LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – UNLV players on Friday combined for an 8-0 record in singles and doubles during the opening round of the Jolene Watanabe Classic at the Fertitta Tennis Complex on campus.
                                                
Players from Long Beach State, Gonzaga, Utah and Utah Tech have joined the Rebels at the three-day event. Admission to all matches is free of charge.
 
Cindy Hu won her match in the top flight, 2-6, 6-4, 7-5, over Cecelia Costa of Long Beach State. She and partner Coco Zhao used a tiebreaker to down Gonzaga's Emily Robertson and Safien Boulonois, 7-6 (2), to advance in doubles.
 
The annual fall invitational was renamed to honor former UNLV great Jolene Watanabe, who put the UNLV women's tennis program on the map three decades ago and passed away in 2019 after a battle with cancer at the age of 50.
 
UNLV RESULTS – 2024 JOLENE WATANABE CLASSIC
Nov. 8
 
SINGLES
Flight One
Cindy Hu (UNLV) def. Cecelia Costa (LBSU) 2-6, 6-4, 7-5
 
Flight Two
Coco Zhao (UNLV) def. Ana Gutierrez (UTT) 6-4, 6-0
Nikol Mircheva (UNLV) def. Thea Jagare (LBSU) 1-6, 6-1, 6-4
 
Flight Three
Kaho Oyama (UNLV) def. Brooke Bittner (GONZ) 2-6, 6-4, 6-4
 
Flight Four
Sofiia Sokolvak (UNLV) def. Raquel Roshak (UTT) 6-1, 6-3
Sabrina Novruzova (UNLV) def. Savannah Johnson (GONZ) 6-2, 6-1
 
DOUBLES
Flight One
Coco Zhao/Cindy Hu (UNLV) def. Emily Robertson/Safien Boulonois (GONZ) 7-6, (2)
 
Flight Two
Nikol MIrcheva/Kaho Oyama (UNLV) def. Nutsa Tsintsadze/Nicole Kells (UTT) 6-1