March 15, 2005

LAS VEGAS - The UNLV men's tennis team broke a school record with a 24-spot jump in this week's national rankings released Tuesday by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association.

The Rebels (9-3), who have won nine of their last 10, are now No. 47 in the nation after coming in at 71 a week ago. The dramatic improvement is thanks to upsetting then-10th-ranked Oklahoma State on Sunday. That match, which was the program's first-ever victory over a top-10 team, followed a win over then-60th Ball State and a close loss to No. 30 South Carolina.

UNLV's previous record rankings jump came when the Rebels went from 36 to 16 in 1996.

Just two seasons removed from setting a different kind of record with a program-low two victories in 2003, UNLV, under second-year head coach Owen Hambrook, is now back in the top 50 for the first time since sitting 50th on May 9, 2001. Hambrook is 21-10 since taking over for 12-year head coach Larry Easley.

There were no individual rankings this week.