Oct. 12, 2004

LAS VEGAS - UNLV will face three of last season's eight College World Series teams in 2005 as part of one of the most challenging schedules in school history, which was released by the school Tuesday.

The Rebels return 10 players from last year's squad that went 37-24, won its second consecutive Mountain West Conference championship and advanced to the NCAA West Regional.

Highlighting the 2005 schedule is a three-game home series with 2004 NCAA champion Cal State Fullerton four weeks into the 2005 season.

The Rebels will play three teams that made it to last year's College World Series, including the Titans. CSF will play three games against the Rebels starting Feb., 25 at Earl E. Wilson Stadium. UNLV will also play Texas, who finished second to CSF in the College World Series and Arizona, who finished fifth. Both of those series will be on the road.

"In eight years at the Division-I level, I have never played a tougher schedule," UNLV head coach Buddy Gouldsmith said. "Playing both Cal State Fullerton and Texas is a huge challenge for any club, but it says a lot about where our program is and where it is headed."

UNLV opens the season on Feb. 4 at home against Cal State Northridge. The Rebels will play the Matadors three times before traveling to perennial-power Texas a three-game set that begins on Feb. 11.

After playing Arizona in Tucson, on March 15 and 16, the Rebels open Mountain West Conference play at home against Air Force on March 18. Thirty of the Rebels' 56 games in 2005 will be against MWC foes. During their run of back-to-back MWC crowns, the Rebels are 52-16 against MWC opponents, including 8-0 in the MWC Tournament.

The 2005 Mountain West Conference Tournament will be held in Salt Lake City, Utah, from March 25-28. The NCAA Regionals will run through June 3-5 and the NCAA Super Regions are June 10-12. The College World Series will start June 17 in Omaha, Neb., and continue through June 27.

UNLV's complete schedule may be found by clicking here.