UNLV, Bruins to compete with new lineups

Friday, January 23, 1998

UNLV, Bruins to compete with new lineups

MTENNIS: Last year’s Runnin’ Rebels match too close for
comfort

By Stephanie Chan

Daily Bruin Contributor

The Rebels will be runnin’ to UCLA at noon this Saturday, but
not to play basketball. Call them the hitting Rebels or the UNLV
tennis team.

This match against the No. 41 Rebels starts off a four-match
home stand for the No. 2 Bruins. The Bruins are coming off a 7-0
shutout of UC Irvine, while the Rebels face their first dual match
test of the 1998 season.

Last year, the test proved difficult as UCLA edged out UNLV,
4-3. The Bruins captured three of the singles points and the
doubles point. The singles points came with victories from UCLA’s
one, two and three positions.

The only 1998 returner to come out of the duel with a victory
was Matt Breen in the No. 2 match, defeating UNLV’s Tim Blenkiron,
6-3, 6-4.

This year, UCLA will be playing without the services of Eric
Taino and Kevin Kim, who brought in two of the Bruins total four
points. Both players left to pursue careers in the pros.

UCLA’s singles losses came in the form of three-set matches,
filled with tie-breakers and 7-5 sets. Asaf Tishler, UNLV’s only
current nationally ranked player, defeated Alex Decret, 5-7, 7-6,
6-2. Las Vegas’ Julius Pohjola defeated Jason Cook, 2-6, 6-4, 7-5,
and UNLV’s Yoav Lowenstein defeated Brandon Kramer, 6-7, 7-5,
6-3.

The 1997 Rebel team included eventual singles national champion
Luke Smith and the doubles national champion team of Smith and
Blenkiron. However, the UNLV team will have a whole new look on
Saturday, void of Smith and Blenkiron, who used to occupy the No. 1
and No. 2 spots for the Rebels, as well as combining to form the
No. 1 doubles team.