Jan. 22, 2005

BOISE, Idaho - Playing undermanned and indoors, the UNLV men's tennis team was quickly eliminated from the ITA Mountain Region Team Championship on Saturday.

Arising early in the morning to face 42nd-ranked host Boise State (3-0), the unranked Rebels (0-1) lost the first four singles matches that were completed, which immediately ended the match at 4-0.

"Congratulations to Boise State, they are very good indoor team and played very well today," UNLV head coach Owen Hambrook said. "This was a good experience competing in front of a big crowd. We obviously have some areas to work on but we'll take some positives away from this trip."

The Broncos advanced to play the winner of the New Mexico vs. Colorado match for a berth to the ITA National Team Indoor Championship, which will be played later this month in Chicago.

UNLV senior star Henner Nehles, who was the highest-ranked singles player in the field at No. 38, was no match in the unfamiliar indoor setting for BSU's 41st-ranked Luke Shields, who won 6-2, 6-3.

Also losing for the visitors were Aviram Salomon at the No. 3 position, 6-4, 6-4, Romain Massaro at No. 4, 6-2, 6-1 and Sean Hubbard at No. 5, 6-0, 6-0. Doubles play was canceled.

It doesn't get any easier for the Rebels as they open their regular-season schedule at No. 2 UCLA on Tuesday.

UNLV MEN'S TENNIS RESULTSITA MOUNTAIN REGION TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPNo. 42 BOISE STATE 4, UNLV 0At Boas Indoor Tennis Center, Boise, Idaho
SINGLES: (BSU EARNS FOUR TEAM POINTS)1. #41 Luke Shields (BSU) def. #38 Henner Nehles (UNLV) 6-2, 6-32. Joel Kielbowicz (UNLV) vs. #89 Thomas Schoeck (BSU) DNF3. #55 Matias Silva (BSU) def. #100 Aviram Salomon (UNLV) 6-4, 6-44. Ikaika Jobe (BSU) def. Romain Massaro (UNLV) 6-2, 6-15. Nils Klemann (BSU) def. Sean Hubbard (UNLV) 6-0, 6-06. Milos Blagojevic (UNLV) vs. Ehren Vaughan (BSU) DNF
DOUBLES: Canceled1. Nehles/Saloman (UNLV) vs. #12 Schoeck/Shields (BSU)2. Hubbard/Kielobiwcz (UNLV) vs. Jobe/Silva (BSU)3. Massaro/Blagojevic (UNLV) vs. Klemann/Roberson (BSU)