May 14, 2004

LAS VEGAS - A slow-healing hand injury has forced UNLV men's tennis standout Henner Nehles to withdraw from the NCAA Singles Championship, which will be played later this month in Tulsa, Okla.

Nehles, a two-time All-Mountain West Conference selection, earned his first career bid to the national event but now will be replaced by an alternate in the 64-player field. The native of Duisburg, Germany, injured his right hand in early April and missed two league matches before coming back for one match at the MWC tournament. He had hoped the injury would completely heal in time for the NCAA trip.

"Henner is very disappointed that he won't be going to Tulsa," UNLV men's tennis head coach Owen Hambrook said. "But we agreed that it would not be a good idea to compete at less than a 100-percent level and instead work on getting completely healthy and ready for next season. We are looking forward to getting Henner back into nationals next year."

Nehles was the first UNLV player in two years to qualify for the NCAA tournament but now becomes the second Rebel ever to withdraw prior to competing because of injury, joining Nenad Zivkovic in 2001.