HOUSTON (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV women's tennis team won a match away from Las Vegas for the first time this season – barely – with a nail-biting 4-3 final over Louisiana Tech in a neutral-site meeting Saturday afternoon at the George R. Brown Tennis Center on the campus of Rice University.
 
After an outing that lasted nearly four-and-a-half fours, the Rebels improved to 8-3 while the Bulldogs saw their eight-match winning streak snapped in falling to 9-3.
 
The first-ever meeting between the programs saw UNLV take a 1-0 lead after doubles play. Hanna Vinahradava and Nikol Mircheva downed Ana Rodrigues and Zoie Epps, 6-4, on court one while Kaho Oyama and Veronica Kliutch won by the same score at the third position over Nina Skoric and Mio Kozaki.
 
UNLV built a commanding 3-0 lead with quick singles wins by Coco Zhao, 6-1, 6-2, over Mari Tsironi at No. 3; and Mircheva, 6-2, 6-3, over Skoric one court down. However, LA Tech roared back, winning three straight matches to tie things.
 
All eyes moved to court five where Rebel freshman Oyama battled Kozaki for well over an hour longer than any other action. Oyama won the first set 7-5 and had multiple match points in the second set before falling 10-8 in the tiebreaker to send things to a third. She then finally finished it off, 7-5, 6-7 (8), 6-2.
 
UP NEXT: UNLV is off until hosting Richmond on March 13 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
UNLV 4, LA TECH 3
March 1, 2025, at Houston
(George R. Brown Tennis Center)

Singles competition
1. Ana Rodrigues (TECH) def. Cindy Hu (UNLV) 6-4, 6-4
2. Zoie Epps (TECH) def. Veronica Kliuch (UNLV) 7-5, 6-4
3. Coco Zhao (UNLV) def. Mari Tsironi (TECH) 6-1, 6-2
4. Nikol Mircheva (UNLV) def. Nina Skoric (TECH) 6-2, 6-3
5. Kaho Oyama (UNLV) def. Mio Kozaki (TECH) 7-5, 6-7 (8-10), 6-2
6. Alice Brook (TECH) def. Hanna Vinahradava (UNLV) 6-0, 5-7, 7-6 (7-3)

 Doubles competition
1. Nikol Mircheva/Hanna Vinahradava (UNLV) def. Ana Rodrigues/Zoie Epps (TECH) 6-4
2. Cindy Hu/Coco Zhao (UNLV) vs. Alice Brook/Mari Tsironi (TECH) 5-4, unfinished
3. Kaho Oyama/Veronica Kliuch (UNLV) def. Mio Kozaki/Nina Skoric (TECH) 6-4

Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (3,4,1,2,6,5)