LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – Facing arch-rival UNR in a regular-season match for the final time under retiring head coach
Kevin Cory, the UNLV women's tennis team gutted out a 4-3 victory on a warm Friday afternoon at the Fertitta Tennis Complex.
The meeting was part of the Silver State Series presented by America First Credit Union as the Rebels improved to 9-5 overall, 2-1 in Mountain West play and 8-2 at home while the Wolf Pack fell to 6-6 (1-2).
Cory, who is completing his 25th and final season leading the program, improved to 15-3 all-time vs. UNR.
UNLV opened by taking the doubles point with victories on the bottom two courts.
Cindy Hu and
Coco Zhao blanked Marlene Foerster and Lea Cakarevic, 6-0, at the No. 2 position to improve to 14-5 on the year before
Salsa Aher and
Aura Fang doubled up Kennedy Robinson and Wiem Boubaker at the third position to clinch it.
In singles play, Zhao upped her record to 10-4 with a quick, 6-2, 6-1 victory over Boubaker on court five. The lead swelled to 3-1 when Aher improved to 14-4 this season with a 7-5, 6-2 win over Foerster at No. 2. The visitors, however, tied things up with three-set victories at Nos. 1 and 3.
All eyes would move to the bottom court where Fang dropped the first set to Robinson before taking the second set. The marathon match saw Robinson grab a 3-0 lead in the decisive set before Fang rallied to win the final three games and get her head coach his 397th career victory.
REBEL OF THE MATCH: Fang clinched both the doubles point with a win at No. 3 and then held off her opponent in singles to clinch the overall win for the Rebels vs. their in-state rival.
QUOTABLE: "I'm super proud of the team today. We knew it was going to be a close match and Aura really handled the pressure well at the end."
-UNLV Head Coach Kevin Cory
UP NEXT: UNLV hosts Fresno State on Thursday starting with doubles play at 10 a.m. Admission to all matches at the Fertitta Tennis Complex is free of charge.
Women's Tennis Match Results
SILVER STATE SERIES PRESENTED BY AMERICA FIRST CREDIT UNION
UNLV 4, UNR 3
March 22, 2024, at Las Vegas, NV
(Fertitta Tennis Complex)
Singles competition
1. Charrier, Amahee (UNR) def.
Zita Kovacs (UNLV) 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
2.
Salsa Aher (UNLV) def. Foerster, Marlene (UNR) 7-5, 6-2
3. Guerbert, Lou-Anne (UNR) def.
Cindy Hu (UNLV) 3-6, 6-3, 7-5
4. Luneva, Anastasia (UNR) def.
Hanna Vinahradava (UNLV) 6-4, 6-1
5.
Coco Zhao (UNLV) def. Boubaker, Wiem (UNR) 6-2, 6-1
6.
Aura Fang (UNLV) def. Robinson, Kennedy (UNR) 4-6, 7-5, 7-5
Doubles competition
1.
Zita Kovacs/
Hanna Vinahradava (UNLV) vs. Luneva, Anastasia/Charrier, Amahee (UNR) 6-6, DNF
2.
Cindy Hu/
Coco Zhao (UNLV) def. Foerster, Marlene/Cakarevic, Lea (UNR) 6-0
3.
Salsa Aher/
Aura Fang (UNLV) def. Robinson, Kennedy/Boubaker, Wiem (UNR) 6-3
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (5,4,2,1,3,6)
