UNLV’s Malec rolls in 2nd round

Wednesday, May 24, 2000 | 10:50 a.m.

MALIBU, Calif. -- UNLV senior Katarina Malec fought off the effects of a four-hour rain delay Tuesday and rallied to defeat Clemson's Carmina Giraldo to move into the third round of the NCAA Women's Tennis Championships at Pepperdine.

With her 17th straight win, Malec (37-5) tied the UNLV single-season victory record set by Marianne Vallin in 1994. She also joined Vallin as the only All-Americans in school history by advancing to the round of 16.

Malec has now advanced farther than any woman in UNLV history.

Vallin, a three-time All-American, never won more than one match at the national tournament. Players seeded in the top 16, who are in the top 20 of the final rankings or who win two matches at the NCAA tournament earn All-America status.

"Katarina's goal all year was to become an All-American and for her to reach that goal by playing her way into the honor is significant," said UNLV tennis coach Kevin Cory. "We wanted to come here and represent UNLV and Las Vegas well and we have done that in a big way."

Malec, ranked 29th, jumped out to a 2-0 lead but Giraldo, ranked 26th, went on to take the first set 6-4. It was the first set Malec lost since February 25.

Malec, who played in a soaked uniform caused by the post-rain humidity, took charge in the second set, however, and evened the score with a 6-2 win.

In the deciding set, Malec quickly broke Giraldo and then failed on seven game points before pulling ahead 2-0. With Giraldo visibly frustrated, Malec then cruised to a 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 victory.

Malec, a native of Warsaw, Poland, said she knew she could wear out her opponent in a match that lasted 2 1/2 hours.

Because of the rain delay, the third round of singles was moved to today, when Malec will face sixth-seeded Alison Bradshaw of Arizona State, who swept Ivona Mihailova of Mississippi, 6-0, 6-1.

In doubles actions, Malec and Marianne Bakken fell one win short of becoming an All-American doubles team, as they were defeated by fifth-ranked Amy Jensen and Claire Curran of Cal in the round of 16.

The 27th-ranked Lady Rebel duo dropped the first set 6-3, but bounced back to take the second set by the same score. Malec and Bakken lost their momentum, however, and were shut out in the final set in a 6-3, 3-6, 6-0 loss.

The match broke the UNLV entry's 15-match winning streak that began on February 25. The Lady Rebels finished with a 25-4 record -- the fourth-most wins in school history.