LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV men's tennis team got a late start to its Mountain West schedule but prevailed 5-2 over Air Force on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon at the Fertitta Tennis Complex.
The Rebels improved to 8-7 overall and 1-0 in league action while the Falcons fell to 6-11 and 1-3.
UNLV made quick work of the visitors in doubles play, taking the two completed matches for a 1-0 lead. Taiyo Hirano and Illia Maksymchuk blanked their opponents 6-0 on court two before Jackson Atherton and Anton Ornberg clinched it up top with a 6-2 victory.
In singles, Maksymchuk downed Phillip Deaton, 6-3, 6-4, at the No. 2 position; and Hirano downed Kyle Garner, 6-4, 6-4, at No. 6. Two Rebels then won in three sets -- Dusan Rsovac, 6-2, 1-6, 6-2, over AJ Moore at No. 3; and Aaron Bailey, 6-1, 1-6, 7-5, over Alec Fritzinger at No. 4.
REBEL OF THE MATCH: Taiyo Hirano won doubles and then swept his opponent in singles play for his team-leading 17th dual victory.
QUOTABLE: "Today was a nice start to the conference schedule. It really hurt us to not have played in two weeks but I was proud that the team was able to push through."
-UNLV Head Coach Andy Jackson
UP NEXT: UNLV will play its first Mountain West road match at Boise State on Friday afternoon.
Men's Tennis Match Results
UNLV 5, AIR FORCE 2
April 7, 2024, at Las Vegas
(Fertitta Tennis Complex)
Singles competition
1. Arjun Kersten (AF) def. Anton Ornberg (UNLV) 2-6, 7-6 (7-5), 3-3, 1-0 (10-7)
2. Illia Maksymchuk (UNLV) def. Phillip Deaton (AF) 6-3, 6-4
3. Dusan Rsovac (UNLV) def. AJ Moore (AF) 6-2, 1-6, 6-2
4. Aaron Bailey (UNLV) def. Alec Fritzinger (AF) 6-1, 1-6, 7-5
5. Jack Brown (AF) def. Martin Jovenin (UNLV) 6-4, 7-6
6. Taiyo Hirano (UNLV) def. Kyle Garner (AF) 6-4, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. Jackson Atherton/Anton Ornberg (UNLV) def. Arjun Kersten/Jack Brown (AF) 6-2
2. Taiyo Hirano/Illia Maksymchuk (UNLV) def. Phillip Deaton/Kyle Garner (AF) 6-0
3. Thomas Navarro/Dusan Rsovac (UNLV) vs. AJ Moore/Tyler Leaird (AF) 3-5, unfinished
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (2,6,5,3,4,1)
