Oct. 24, 2000

LAS VEGAS - Nearly 100 men's collegiate tennis players will compete this week at the 2000 ITA Regional Championships to be held for the fourth consecutive year at the Fertitta Tennis Complex on the UNLV campus.

Members from 16 western teams will face off as individuals from Wednesday through Sunday on 12 courts each day in both singles and doubles. The tournament is one of nine regionals across the nation being played this month. Winners advance to the 2001 Rolex National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships on February 1-4 in Dallas, Texas.

Two of the nation's top-40 players will be in action: 22nd-ranked Oliver Maiberger of San Diego State and 37th-ranked Marc Legris of New Mexico State. Two of the top 30 doubles teams also will compete: the Aggies' 14th-ranked duo of Legris and Cesar Obieta and 28th-ranked Gert Vilms and Carlos Lozano of BYU. UNLV will have six singles entries and three doubles teams.

Wednesday's first round, which gets under way at 8 a.m., will feature nearly singles matches and 25 doubles matches. There will be a consolation draw in singles to ensure each entrant at least two matches.

The finals are set for Sunday with the singles championship at 10 a.m. and doubles following. Admission to all matches is free of charge.

TEAMS SENDING COMPETITORSAir ForceBoise StateBYUUniversity of DenverEastern WashingtonIdahoMontanaMontana StateUNLVNew MexicoNew Mexico StateNorthern ArizonaSan Diego StateUtahUtah StateWeber State