Owls Stun with Double Win and Take Match over UNLV

Friday, February 5

Las Vegas, NV

1 PM

Florida Atlantic

UNLV

Natalia Boltinskaya and Louie McLelland 2021

2/5/2021 5:24:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Box Score

LAS VEGAS – The Florida Atlantic University No. 1 doubles duo of Natalia Boltinskaya and Louie McLelland captured a stunning victory over the nation's No. 13-ranked team, leading the Owls to a 4-1 win over host UNLV on Friday.

As is custom, the Owls took to the doubles' courts first with the pair of Boltinskaya and McLelland teaming together on court No. 1. They also were the first to walk off with a comfortable 6-1 win, followed by Radka Buzkova and Katerina Filip, who captured court No. 3, 6-2, securing the match's first point and the first FAU doubles' point win of the young season.

With the 1-0 lead, FAU moved into singles play where Martina Kudelova led the way on court No. 2, capturing the Owls' first singles point (6-1, 6-2). May Kimhi, who was scheduled to play an exhibition match, but was called into action on court No. 6, then put FAU up 3-1 with a 6-0, 6-4 win. Moments later, the Owls dropped on court No. 1, but Buzkova clinched the win 6-3, 7-5 on court No. 5.

Wheelen's Wisdom

"The girls did an excellent job taking care of business today," said Caroline Wheelen, FAU's head tennis coach. "This match was won by who was mentally stronger because no one was playing at their best. We've been working on the mental side of their games for several months so the work paid off today. I'm especially proud of Boltinskaya/McLelland defeating the No. 13 doubles team nationally.

Match Results

Florida Atlantic 4, UNLV 1
Singles competition
1. Izumi Asano (UNLV) def. Boltinskaya, Natalia (FAU-W) 6-4, 6-3
2. Kudelova, Martina (FAU-W) def. Connie Li (UNLV) 6-1, 6-2
3. En-Pei Huang (UNLV) vs. Filip, Katerina (FAU-W) 6-3, 4-6, unfinished
4. Zita Kovacs (UNLV) vs. Kallmunzerova, Na (FAU-W) 7-5, 4-5, unfinished
5. Buzkova, Radka (FAU-W) def. Sam Smith (UNLV) 6-3, 7-5
6. Kimhi, May (FAU-W) def. Aura Fang (UNLV) 6-0, 6-4

Doubles competition
1. Boltinskaya, Natalia/McLelland, Louie (FAU-W) def. #13 Izumi Asano/En-Pei Huang (UNLV) 6-1
2. Zita Kovacs/Olivia Elliott (UNLV) vs. Kimhi, May/Kudelova, Martina (FAU-W) 4-5, unfinished
3. Buzkova, Radka/Filip, Katerina (FAU-W) def. Sam Smith/Connie Li (UNLV) 6-2

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

What's Next

FAU will return to the UNLV courts for a 1 p.m. Saturday match versus Conference USA foe UTSA. There will be no live stats, but lineups and results will be made available on twitter @FAUWTennis.