May 7, 2002

LAS VEGAS - A UNLV men's tennis player and assistant coach have been honored for their outstanding performances this season, the Intercollegiate Tennis Association announced Tuesday.

Rebel star Thomas Schneiter is the 2002 ITA Mountain Region Farnsworth Senior Player of the Year after posting a 22-7 overall record that included a 15-4 mark at the No.1 singles position. The two-time All-Mountain West Conference honoree's final campaign included a 9-2 record vs. regional opponents and an upset of the nation's top-ranked player, Al Garland of Pepperdine, in Malibu, Calif., on April 6.

"Thomas had an outstanding year and deserved this honor," UNLV head coach Larry Easley said. "He showed that he can beat anyone in the nation while also being a true sportsman on the court."

Schneiter, who will head to his first NCAA Singles Championship later this month, is the program's second consecutive regional senior of the year and third overall. Nenad Zivkovic took home last year's Farnsworth Award and Asaf Tishler won it in 1999.

Also being recognized was second-year staffer Stephane Matheu-Cambas. The 2002 ITA Mountain Region Assistant Coach of the Year, Matheu-Cambas played on the ATP Tour from 1992-99, reaching as high as No. 286 in the world as a professional. He joined Easley's staff in fall of 2000 and the native of Paris, France, has proved both an effective teacher and administrator.

"Stephane is as good an assistant coach as this school has seen," Easley said. "The players relate to him because of his younger age and respect him because of his tremendous talents on the court. He is also a great person."

Matheu-Cambas is only the second UNLV men's assistant coach to earn the award, joining Doug Failla in 1998.

Both Schneiter and Matheu-Cambas will now be included with seven other regional winners to be considered for the national version of their respective awards.