Oct. 27, 2005

LAS VEGAS - The UNLV men's and women's swimming and diving teams will compete at home for the first time this season, as the Rebels will host the Arizona State Sun Devils on Sunday afternoon at 2 pm at Buchanan Natatorium.

Both ASU teams are ranked coming into Sunday, with the men (1-0) at 25th while the women (0-1) own a 17th ranking. The Sun Devil men were also ranked to being the season last year when UNLV swam in Tempe, but the Rebel men would pull off a 152.5-141.1 upset. A big key in the Rebels' win was the performance of Joe Bartoch, who won both his individual events and swam on two first place relays to lead the team, and was named Collegeswimming.com's National Swimmer of the Week. Bartoch returns for the Rebels this year for his senior season, as does junior Brandon Nelms, 2005 MWC 50 free champion, and the two will look to lead the UNLV men in their first action of the year.

The Rebel women (1-0) began their season last weekend in San Diego with a 167-128 win at San Diego State. Though they lost to ASU last year, UNLV brings in a deeper team this season, led by sophomores Marina Sandback and Kim Bonney, two double-winners from the win over the Aztecs.