LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – UNLV players went 6-2 in singles play during the first day of action on Friday at the Jolene Watanabe Classic at the Fertitta Tennis Complex on campus.
                                                
Competing against opponents from Cal Poly and Utah Tech, the Rebels were a perfect 5-0 in the top two flights of singles.
 
In Draw A, Veronika Kliuch downed Kennedy Buntrock of Cal Poly, 6-3, 6-0 and Hudson Hawkins defeated Alexandra Ozerets of the Mustangs, 7-5, 6-4.
 
In Draw B, Eszter Kis-Czacko swept Natalie Lynch of CP, 6-4, 6-3; Adi Botton rallied past Aspen Chung of CP, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4; and Kaho Oyama downed Maya Inouye of Utah Tech, 6-1, 6-3.
 
In Draw C, Sofiia Sokolvak needed three sets to get by Oliva Mlouk of Cal Poly, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4.
 
The hosts also won one doubles match as Oyama and Bitton downed Raquel Roshak and Nicole Kells of Utah Tech, 6-2.
 
Action gets underway each day at 10 a.m. PT from Friday through Sunday. Admission is free of charge.
 
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.
 
2025 WATANABE CLASSIC
Nov. 7-9
Fertitta Tennis Complex, Las Vegas
 
SINGLES
DRAW A
Veronika Kliuch (UNLV) vs. Kennedy Buntrock (CP) 6-3, 6-0
Jessica MacCallum (CP) v. Marian Zurita Berdecio (UTT) 6-0, 6-1
Hudson Hawkins (UNLV) v. Alexandra Ozerets (CP) 7-5, 6-4
Candela Aparisi (CP) vs. Ana Gutierrez Sampere (UTT) 6-0, 6-2
 
DRAW B
Eszter Kis-Czacko (UNLV) def. Natalie Lynch (CP) 6-4, 6-3
Sarah MacCallum (CP) v. Olivia Bustos (UTT) 6-2, 6-4
Adi Bitton (UNLV) vs. Aspen Chung (CP) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
Kaho Oyama (UNLV) vs. Maya Inouye (UTT) 6-1, 6-3
 
DRAW C
Anushree Shekhera (CP) vs. Nutsa Tsintsadze (UTT) 6-0, 6-3
Sofiia Sokolvak (UNLV) vs. Oliva Mlouk (CP) 6-7, 6-3, 6-4
Tia Jakupovic-Jljako (CP) vs. Nicole Kells (UTT) 6-0, 6-2
Cameron Hendrix (UTT) def. Sabrina Novruzova (UNLV) 6-2, 2-6, 6-3
Raquel Roshak (UTT) def. Zarina Novruzova (UNLV) 6-1, 7-6
 
DOUBLES
Kennedy Buntrock/Jessica MacCallum (CP) def. Eszter Kis-Czacko/Sofiia Sokolvak (UNLV) 6-3.
Natalie Lynch/Candela Aparisi (CP) vs. Mariana Zurita/Ana Gutierrez Sampere (UTT) 7-6
Amy Leather/Sarah MacCallum (CP) def. Hudson Hawkins/Veronika Kliuch (UNLV) 7-5
Maya Inouye/Nutsa Tsintsadze (UTT) def. Aspen Chung/Alexandra Ozerets (CP) 6-4
Anushree Shekhera/Tia Jakupovic-Kljako (CP) vs. Oliva Bustos/Cameron Hendrix (UTT) 6-4
Kaho Oyama/Adi Bitton (UNLV) def. Raquel Roshak/Nicole Kells (UTT) 6-2