Monday, January 20
Las Vegas, NV
12 pm PT
University of Nevada Las Vegas
6
vs
1
Creighton
Photo by: Lucas Peltier
1/20/2025 4:01:00 PM | Men's Tennis
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV men's tennis team opened its dual-match schedule with an impressive 6-1 win over Creighton on a sunny but frigid Monday at the Fertitta Tennis Complex.
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The Rebels fought off the winds to take the doubles point with triumphs on the bottom two courts. Illia Maksymchuk and Kemal Karakas won 6-1 at the second spot while Joel Gibson and Vitaliy Horovoy clinched with a 7-6 tiebreak victory on court three.
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In singles play, a trio of Rebels swept to wins: Thomas Navarro, 6-4, 6-2, over Zachary Kuo at No. 3; Karakas, 6-3, 6-4 over Kirtan Patel at No. 4; and Gibson, 6-0, 7-6 over Ethan Neil at No. 6. The home team also picked up comeback wins in three-setters as Maksymchuk got by Alejando Gandini 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 at the top spot and Horovoy downed Rocky McKenzie at No. 5, 2-6, 6-1, 6-0.
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REBEL OF THE MATCH: Freshman Kemal Karakas had a bright Rebel debut, winning easily at No. 2 doubles before sweeping his singles opponent on court four.
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QUOTABLE: "It was a nice start to the season for us today and we are excited to be playing home matches Thursday, Friday and Saturday."
-UNLV Head Coach Andy Jackson
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UP NEXT:Â UNLV will host a trio of matches this weekend, beginning with UC Riverside on Thursday at 2 pm. All matches at Fertitta Tennis Complex are free of charge.
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Men's Tennis Match Results
UNLV 6, CREIGHTON 1
Jan. 20, 2025, at Las Vegas
(Fertitta Tennis Complex)
Singles competition
1. Illia Maksymchuk (UNLV) def. Alejandro Gandini (CREIGH) 4-6, 6-2, 6-4
2. Yuma Daijima (CREIGH) def. Dusan Rsovac (UNLV) 1-6, 7-5, 1-0 (10-5)
3. Thomas Navarro (UNLV) def. Zachary Kuo (CREIGH) 6-4, 6-2
4. Kemal Karakas (UNLV) def. Kirtan Patel (CREIGH) 6-3, 6-4
5. Vitaliy Horovoy (UNLV) def. Rocky McKenzie (CREIGH) 2-6, 6-1, 6-0
6. Joel Gibson (UNLV) def. Ethan Neil (CREIGH) 6-0, 7-6
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 Doubles competition
1. Dusan Rsovac/Thomas Navarro (UNLV) vs. Rocky McKenzie/Ethan Neil (CREIGH) 6-6, unfinished
2. Kemal Karakas/Illia Maksymchuk (UNLV) def. Yuma Daijima/Alejandro Gandini (CREIGH) 6-1
3. Joel Gibson/Vitaliy Horovoy (UNLV) def. Zachary Kuo/Kirtan Patel (CREIGH) 7-6
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The Rebels fought off the winds to take the doubles point with triumphs on the bottom two courts. Illia Maksymchuk and Kemal Karakas won 6-1 at the second spot while Joel Gibson and Vitaliy Horovoy clinched with a 7-6 tiebreak victory on court three.
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In singles play, a trio of Rebels swept to wins: Thomas Navarro, 6-4, 6-2, over Zachary Kuo at No. 3; Karakas, 6-3, 6-4 over Kirtan Patel at No. 4; and Gibson, 6-0, 7-6 over Ethan Neil at No. 6. The home team also picked up comeback wins in three-setters as Maksymchuk got by Alejando Gandini 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 at the top spot and Horovoy downed Rocky McKenzie at No. 5, 2-6, 6-1, 6-0.
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REBEL OF THE MATCH: Freshman Kemal Karakas had a bright Rebel debut, winning easily at No. 2 doubles before sweeping his singles opponent on court four.
Â
QUOTABLE: "It was a nice start to the season for us today and we are excited to be playing home matches Thursday, Friday and Saturday."
-UNLV Head Coach Andy Jackson
Â
UP NEXT:Â UNLV will host a trio of matches this weekend, beginning with UC Riverside on Thursday at 2 pm. All matches at Fertitta Tennis Complex are free of charge.
Â
Men's Tennis Match Results
UNLV 6, CREIGHTON 1
Jan. 20, 2025, at Las Vegas
(Fertitta Tennis Complex)
Singles competition
1. Illia Maksymchuk (UNLV) def. Alejandro Gandini (CREIGH) 4-6, 6-2, 6-4
2. Yuma Daijima (CREIGH) def. Dusan Rsovac (UNLV) 1-6, 7-5, 1-0 (10-5)
3. Thomas Navarro (UNLV) def. Zachary Kuo (CREIGH) 6-4, 6-2
4. Kemal Karakas (UNLV) def. Kirtan Patel (CREIGH) 6-3, 6-4
5. Vitaliy Horovoy (UNLV) def. Rocky McKenzie (CREIGH) 2-6, 6-1, 6-0
6. Joel Gibson (UNLV) def. Ethan Neil (CREIGH) 6-0, 7-6
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 Doubles competition
1. Dusan Rsovac/Thomas Navarro (UNLV) vs. Rocky McKenzie/Ethan Neil (CREIGH) 6-6, unfinished
2. Kemal Karakas/Illia Maksymchuk (UNLV) def. Yuma Daijima/Alejandro Gandini (CREIGH) 6-1
3. Joel Gibson/Vitaliy Horovoy (UNLV) def. Zachary Kuo/Kirtan Patel (CREIGH) 7-6
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Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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