With only two starters back and three lettermen returning overall, UNLV head coach Dr. Larry Easley had to find even more new players than usual for the upcoming spring season.
"We did really well last year (13-10) considering we had so few guys," Easley says. "I don't ever want to go through another season like that again. On the other hand, the numbers allowed us to bring in a big recruiting class that I like a lot."
The Rebel roster is still only eight men deep but that is pure luxury compared to 2001 when injuries limited UNLV to fielding just five players an incredible six times in the heart of league play, including two victories!
Considering that two of the three returning starters are former transfers from a Pac-10 Conference school, Easley's program has undergone a complete overhaul and no current players were at the school even two seasons ago.
"We certainly have a really young team and just got half of the starters in during January," he says. "We're not that powerful at the top half of the lineup but we have more depth than we've had in a while. I really like this group. They are all good kids who are good students and they all have potential."
Having finished one win away from an automatic berth into the NCAA tournament a year ago, the Rebels are looking to earn a trip to postseason for the seventh time in nine years but first since 1999.
"It is our goal to get back to a regional and this lineup just may be able to accomplish that."
SINGLES
Famous for their strong play at the top of the lineup, the Rebels' No. 1 singles player has earned an invite to the NCAA single tournament in seven of the last eight seasons. With regional senior player of the year Nenad Zivkovic now gone, UNLV's top job now goes to last year's No. 2 man, Thomas Schneiter (11-8 in singles in 2001) who showed signs of stardom after moving over from the University of Oregon. The team's only senior will get plenty of chances to make his mark vs. top competition this spring and if the preseason results are any indication, he will do just that. His 7-3 tournament record included downing the nation's 13th-ranked player at the National Collegiate Tennis Classic.
"I'm hoping Thomas will make a breakthrough this year, he certainly has the talent to do it," Easley says. "He is capable of knocking off a lot of top guys, especially at home. He reminds me of (former Rebel All-American) Luke Smith in some ways. Luke was never a sure thing going into a match but ended up winning two national championships. If Thomas can pick up a couple more big wins, he can gain the confidence needed to get into the top four in our region and into the NCAAs."
The new No. 2 is one of two French recruits, Romain Tug.
"Romain is a talented and tough kid. He is a groundstroke player who will go to the net and should develop into a really good player," the head coach says. "He is one of three guys who are in their first semester at college so they'll need some time to get acclimated. By the end of the season, he should be a good second guy."
Not far behind is Aviram Salomon, who will begin the dual-match season at No. 3. Yet another in a growing line of Israeli tennis players to suit up for UNLV, Salomon is an older freshman after a stint in his home nation's military and will look to replace Tel Aviv native Danny Erez as a go-to guy in the middle.
"Avrimam was here in the fall and showed he can challenge really good players. Just like Asaf Tishler and Danny before him, he is a tough competitor who is going to make you beat him."
Thomas Michaud is the other native of France who just joined the program and will take up residence in the fourth singles position.
"Thomas is a young, tall kid who is a serve-and-volleyer and should turn into a really good player for us," Easley says.
The second returning starter is Leslie Eisinga (15-10). The fellow former Duck turned in a 7-5 mark at No. 6 a year ago but should move up a spot as a junior after finally enjoying full health.
"Leslie was sick and injured a lot last year but he seems to have turned it around," Easley says. "He is looking much better out on the court and I think we can count on him for some important wins."
The team's final rookie starter will be Andreas Maurer, who, like Schneiter, hails from Switzerland.
"After he gets used to the American college game, Andreas could be one of the stronger six men we have had in a while."
Adding depth will be walk-on Noah Tondre, who is still looking for his first collegiate victory after getting his feet wet in the fall, and Ryan Claridge (0-1), who doubles as a star linebacker on the Rebel football team and returns in a limited role while also going through spring practice.
DOUBLES
After fielding a stunning 13 different doubles combinations a year ago, Easley says 2002 will be vastly different.
"I'm excited about our doubles lineup. We have three good teams that get along with each other really well. It has been a few years since we had set teams and it will only help them get better to play with the same partners day in and day out."
Two of the three pairings can be identified geographically as Swiss players Schneiter and Maurer will be joined at one of the top two spots while the French duo of Tug and Michaud will play alongside each other as well. At the third position, former NCAA doubles tournament qualifier Eisinga will work with Salomon to form perhaps one of the better No. 3 duos in school history.
SCHEDULE
After having only six of 18 regular-season matches at Fertitta in 2001, UNLV will set up shop for 12 home matches this spring, including a 10-match stand that will help define the year for a team ranked 59th heading into spring.
The annual eight-team spring invitational opens the home slate before returning to Corpus Christi, Texas, for the program's only road tournament. On April 25-27, UNLV will host the Mountain West Conference Championships to mark the first time the school has been home to a men's league tournament.
"We travel a lot less this year and we are looking forward to hosting the Mountain West," says Easley, who guided his charges to the finals at last year's event. "We will work to earn one of the top three seeds again. San Diego State is the clear favorite to win the championship this year but if we stay healthy, we'll be in the ballgame."
