Perez Victorious for Women’s Tennis on Second Day of UNLV Invitational

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Freshman Nicole Perez won her first collegiate match in consolation singles play, recording the lone victory for NAU on another challenging day in Las Vegas at the UNLV Fall Invitational.

Perez faced New Mexico State’s Natalia Salum in a consolation singles match in Flight 4. After winning the first set, 6-4, Perez dropped the second set by a 6-3 tally. She would rally back in the third set, topping Salum 6-1 to record her fist win at the collegiate level.

The Lumberjacks had two doubles teams playing for titles as well on Saturday, but came up short in both matches. Junior Orsi Golovics and freshman Malia Wahinepio dropped a tough 8-6 decision to Vanja Corovic and Stephanie Davison from Texas in the Flight 2 finals. Perez and junior Aimee Oki played for a doubles championship in Flight 4, but lost, 8-4, to Texas’ Aeriell Ellis and Sarah Lancaster.

The season-opening tournament will conclude on Sunday, with play resuming at 10 a.m.

Northern Arizona Results

Doubles

Flight 2 Finals
Corovic/Davison (UT) def. Golovics/Wahinepio (NAU) 8-6

Flight 3 Consolation
Slylvain/Pinero (NMSU) def. Hasegawa/Mendes (NAU) 8-1

Flight 4 Finals
Ellis/Lancaster (UT) def. Oki/Perez (NAU) 8-4

Singles

Flight 1 Consolation
Jaimie Mera (UM) def. Orsi Golovics (NAU) 6-4, 6-3

Flight 2 Consolation
Manon Sylvain (NMSU) def. Yumi Hasegawa (NAU) 6-2, 7-5

Flight 3 Consolation
Anna Maskaljun (UNLV) def. Malia Wahinepio (NAU) 6-4, 6-1

Flight 4 Consolation
Nicole Perez (NAU) def. Natalia Salum (NMSU) 6-4, 3-6, 6-1
Maureen Modesto (UM) def. Aimee Oki (NAU) 6-4, 6-3