Dec. 9, 2004

LAS VEGAS - UNLV's top players were well represented in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's recently released Fall Regional Rankings.

Senior Henner Nehles, who headed into fall's tournament season ranked 46th nationally, is the No. 1 ranked singles player in the Mountain Region after compiling a 9-3 record that included winning the ITA Regional Singles Championship on his home courts in October.

Fellow-senior Aviram Salomon, ranked 67th nationally, posted an 8-3 tournament mark and sits sixth in the Rebels' region. Junior Romain Massaro, who struggled to a 4-6 record in fall play, is ranked 24th.

In doubles, Nehles and Salomon, who were a perfect 5-0 playing together in fall tournaments, are the No. 12 doubles team regionally while Joel Kielbowicz and Sean Hubbard came in at 13 after compiling a 2-1 slate.

On the women's side, fantastic freshman Elena Gantcheva, who was unranked nationally, rose to No. 6 in the Lady Rebels' West Region, which is generally considered one of the toughest in the nation. Gantcheva defeated all six ranked players she faced en route to a stunning 14-1 fall record.

Senior Gyorgyi Zsiros, ranked 72nd nationally, is 28th in the West after a slow 1-4 start in the fall, while another UNLV senior, Anne Claire Ortiz-Luis, is 30th after a 5-3 fall effort.

Gantcheva and partner Sharon Marin are the region's 13th-ranked doubles team after turning in a 1-1 mark.

National rankings for team and individuals will be released by the ITA on January 11.