SAN DIEGO -- In a match that saw to UNLV players default before play even began, the BYU men's tennis team lost to No. 32 UNLV, 4-3, on Saturday at San Diego State University.
The loss drops the Cougars to 7-10 overall, 2-3 in the conference, while UNLV improves to 11-6 overall and 2-0 in the Mountain West.
BYU's 23rd-ranked doubles team of Carlos Lozano and Gert Vilms slipped by Nenad Zivkovic and Thomas Schneiter at the top position, 9-8 (7-5 in the tiebreaker). With only five players making the trip because of injuries, the Rebels began play down 1-0 overall and behind in doubles 1-0, so the victory won the doubles point for BYU.
In singles play, besides the default at the No. 6 spot, the only victory was by Carlos Lozano at the two spot. He defeated Thomas Schneiter, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. Then, three Rebels quickly won in straight sets. Zivkovic at the top spot, Gregor Skorin at No. 3 and Leslie Eisinga at No. 5. The match came down to the fourth position where UNLV's Artin Tafazoli rallied to win 6-7, 6-2, 6-1 over Michael Gysens and the fifth spot.
The Cougars will take a week off before facing the University of Denver on April 9 at the BYU Outdoor Tennis Courts.
RESULTS: BYU 3 UNLV 4
Singles:
#1 Nenad Zivkovic def. Gert Vilms 7-6, 6-4 UNLV
#2 Carlos Lozano def. Thomas Schneiter 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 BYU
#3 Gregor Skorin def. Eric Nyman 6-4, 6-3 UNLV
#4 Artin Tafazoli def. Michael Gysens 6-7, 6-2, 6-1 UNLV
#5 Leslie Eisinga def. Jeff Olsen 6-4, 6-2 UNLV
#6 BYU WINS BY DEFAULT Default BYU
Doubles:
#1 Vilms/Lozano def. Zivkovic/Schneiter 9-8 (5) BYU
#2 Skorin/Eisinga def. Olsen/Jeff Harbach 8-5 UNLV
#3 BYU WINS BY DEFAULT Default BYU