UNLV Triumphs as Men’s Tennis Faces 6-1 Setback

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The Creighton men’s tennis squad encountered its initial defeat of the season, losing to UNLV, 6-1, on Monday afternoon at the Fertitta Tennis Complex in Las Vegas, Nev. 
 
The Bluejays now stand at 2-1 this season after failing to achieve their first 3-0 start since 2015. UNLV, on the other hand, advanced to 1-0 with their season-opening triumph. 
 
“I’m extremely proud of our performance against a very accomplished UNLV team today,” commented head coach Gerhard Posch. “We had match point at No. 3 doubles and were in a tiebreaker at No. 1 doubles when UNLV secured the doubles point. Half of the singles matches concluded in the third set. By continuing to improve ourselves, we will win these kinds of duals; it’s just a matter of time.” 
 
Both teams exchanged blows in doubles play before UNLV ultimately claimed the point. UNLV’s Kemal Karakas and Illia Maksymchuk dominated the No. 2 doubles, 6-1, while Joel Gibson and Vitaliy Horovoy overcame a match point to narrowly defeat Zachary Kuo and Kirtan Patel, 7-6, at No. 3 doubles to clinch the doubles point. A match between Rocky McKenzie and Ethan Neil at No. 1 doubles was also poised for a tiebreaker when it was halted. 
 
UNLV quickly surged to a 3-0 advantage in singles play, with Joel Gibson claiming a 6-0, 7-6 victory over Neil at the No. 6 singles court, while Thomas Navarro triumphed over Kuo, 6-4, 6-2 at the No. 3 singles position. The Runnin Rebels sealed the match just moments later with a 6-3, 6-4 victory by Karakas at the No. 4 singles spot. 
 
Creighton’s Alejandro Gandini and McKenzie were each driven into critical third sets, but they couldn’t maintain early momentum as UNLV garnered wins at No. 1 and No. 5 singles courts. 
 
Junior Yuma Daijima provided Creighton’s only point of the day, finishing strong by rallying from a one-set deficit to take a 1-6, 7-5, 10-5 three-set success over Dusan Rsovac at the No. 2 singles position. 
 
The Bluejays will compete again on Saturday, Jan. 25 at 11 a.m., traveling to St. Peter, Minn. to face Gustavus Adolphus. 
 
Tennis Match Outcomes
Creighton vs UNLV

1/20/25 at Las Vegas

(Fertitta Tennis Complex)

UNLV 6, Creighton 1

 Singles competition 

1. Illia Maksymchuk (UNLV) def. Alejandro Gandini (CU) 4-6, 6-2, 6-4

2. Yuma Daijima (CU) def. Dusan Rsovac (UNLV) 1-6, 7-5, 1-0 (10-5)

3. Thomas Navarro (UNLV) def. Zachary Kuo (CU) 6-4, 6-2

4. Kemal Karakas (UNLV) def. Kirtan Patel (CU) 6-3, 6-4

5. Vitaliy Horovoy (UNLV) def. Rocky McKenzie (CU) 2-6, 6-1, 6-0

6. Joel Gibson (UNLV) def. Ethan Neil (CU) 6-0, 7-6

 Doubles competition 

1. Dusan Rsovac/Thomas Navarro (UNLV) vs. Rocky McKenzie/Ethan Neil (CU) 6-6, unfinished

2. Kemal Karakas/Illia Maksymchuk (UNLV) def. Yuma Daijima/Alejandro Gandini (CU) 6-1

3. Joel Gibson/Vitaliy Horovoy (UNLV) def. Zachary Kuo/Kirtan Patel (CU) 7-6

Match Notes:

Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles ()