ORLANDO (UNLVRebels.com) – UNLV men's tennis star Ilia Snitari felt defeat for the first time as a Rebel as he was downed by the nation's seventh-ranked player in Thursday's Round of 16 at the NCAA Division I Singles Championship being staged at the USTA National Campus.
 
Ranked 83rd, Snitari led Michigan State's Ozan Baris 6-5 in the second set but saw his opponent tie it up and then take the tiebreaker in the 6-4, 7-6 (5) final.
 
Snitari, who one day earlier became UNLV's first All-American since 2002 by winning his second-round match, fell to 12-1 this fall and 20-1 overall after a record-setting beginning to his career.
 
With UNLV's fall tournament season now complete, the Rebels will next be in action on Jan. 17 when they host Wichita State at the Fertitta Tennis Complex.
 
NCAA D-I MEN'S TENNIS SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP
Orlando, FL
 
Round of 16
(8) #7 Ozan Baris (MSU) def. #83 Ilia Snitari (UNLV) 6-4, 7-6 (5)