RENO, Nev. - Nevada's Mountain West home opener came down to the final set of the final match against Boise State Friday, but the Pack fell, 4-3, in the end.
All eyes were on the No. 1 singles match between Nevada's
Anastasia Luneva and Boise State's Pauline Ernstberger, as the pair went to a third and deciding set to settle the dual. Ernstberger would pull away in the third, capping a 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 comeback win to send the Pack to defeat against the Broncos (5-3, 1-2 MW).
Nevada (7-5, 1-2 MW) showed heart in bouncing back from dropping the doubles point to tie the match at 3-3. In singles action,
Gabriella Charalampidi made quick work of Nicole Discenza at No. 5, 6-1, 6-2, followed by
Selina Turulja's 6-3, 6-1 win over Ana Conde Vendrell at No. 4.
Trailing 3-2, Nevada pulled even behind a comeback effort from
Mariana Campino at No. 2. The freshman came back from down 2-5 in the opening set to win five-straight games, taking the set, 7-5. She wrapped the victory with a 6-4 decision in the second set.
Nevada will aim for a weekend split Sunday at 11 a.m. against Utah State.
Boise State 4, Nevada 3
Doubles
No. 1 - Joana Baptista/Nicole Discenza (BSU) def.
Selina Turulja/
Mariana Campino (NEV) 6-4
No. 2 - Holly Stewart/Shauna Heffernan (BSU) def.
Anastasia Luneva/
Mathilde Sarcelet (NEV) 6-2
No. 3 - Pauline Ernstberger/Ana Conde Vendrell (BSU) vs.
Cristina Moll Alles/
Gabriella Charalampidi (NEV) 5-2, unf.
Order of Finish: 2, 3
Singles
No. 1 - Ernstberger (BSU) def. Luneva (NEV) 3-6, 6-4, 6-2
No. 2 - Campino (NEV) def. Baptista (BSU) 7-5, 6-4
No. 3 - Stewart (BSU) def. Moll Alles (NEV) 6-2, 6-0
No. 4 - Turulja (NEV) def. Conde Vendrell (BSU) 6-3, 6-1
No. 5 - Charalampidi (NEV) def. Discenza (BSU) 6-1, 6-2
No. 6 - Heffernan (BSU) def. Sarcelet (NEV) 6-4, 6-3
Order of Finish: 3, 5, 4, 6, 2, 1