May 2, 2002
LAS VEGAS - UNLV men's tennis star Thomas Schneiter has earned an invitation to the NCAA Singles Championship to be held in College Station, Texas, on May 22-27, the national governing body announced Thursday.
The top four players in each of the NCAA's eight regions earn automatic bids and the senior from Worb, Switzerland, was the No. 2-ranked player in the Mountain Region. The field of 64 will also include 32 at-large players. The draw will be released the week of the tournament. Joining him from the region will be fellow MWC players Oliver Maiberger of San Diego State, Gert Vilms of BYU and Divan Coatzee of New Mexico.
The first UNLV player to ever be named conference player of the week three times in one season, Schneiter holds a record of 22-7 and is currently ranked 62nd nationally. Named All-Mountain West Conference for the second consecutive year, his final season included upsetting the country's top-ranked player, Al Garland of Pepperdine, on April 6.
"Thomas had a great year and deserved the bid," UNLV head coach Larry Easley said. "He put it all together as a senior and he has proved this spring that he is capable of beating anyone in the tournament."
Schneiter, will become the first UNLV men's player to compete at the event since Asaf Tishler in 1999. Former Rebel Nenad Zivkovic earned a bid to the 2001 tournament but was forced to withdraw ahead of time because of a shoulder injury.
Four other Rebels have competed at the final leg of the Collegiate Grand Slam with some spectacular results. Luke Smith went to two tournaments and, as a senior in 1997, rolled through the field to win the school's first tennis national championship. He then teamed with Tim Blenkiron a few hours later to win the doubles title as well.
Two-time All-American Roger Pettersson holds the school's honor of qualifying for the most such tournaments with three (1994-96).
UNLV men have a 9-7 record all-time in singles play. Below is the complete list of Rebels at the NCAA Singles Championship.
PLAYER YEAR(S) RECORDThomas Schneiter 2002 TBANenad Zivkovic 2001 WithdrewAsaf Tishler 1998, '99 0-2Luke Smith 1996, '97 6-1Roger Pettersson 1994, '95, '96 0-3Scott Warner 1986, '87 3-2TOTAL 11 9-7
