April 11, 2002

LAS VEGAS - UNLV tennis senior Thomas Schneiter earned his third Mountain West Conference Men's Player of the Week Award, including two straight, the league announced Thursday.

The product of Worb, Switzerland, stunned the nation's No. 1-ranked college tennis player last week to earn the first 20-win season of his career.

Playing at No. 4 Pepperdine in Malibu, Calif., Schneiter rallied after dropping the first set to defeat senior Al Garland 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) on his home court.

Ranked 88th, Schneiter is the team's only senior. He has won 13 of his last 14 matches to improve to 20-6 overall, including 13-3 in dual-match play this spring. He won his first award on February 22 and second last week. Teammate Aviram Salomon earned the same honor March 27, the first of three straight by the school.

The four overall players of the week sets a school record, besting the three Rebel players honored in 1997 when the UNLV was part of the Western Athletic Conference.

UNLV (9-9), ranked 56th, will close out its regular season with matches vs. BYU Friday and at Utah Saturday - both in Salt Lake City. With a sweep, the Rebels will win at least a share of their first MWC regular-season championship.