April 27, 2005
SAN DIEGO - Senior star Henner Nehles became the first UNLV tennis player to win a conference MVP award in nine years as he was named the 2005 Mountain West Conference Player of the Year Wednesday at the league's annual banquet, which was held on the eve of the championship tournament.
Nehles, who is ranked 95th nationally, boasts an overall record of 26-8 and has won eight straight matches, including a perfect 5-0 in MWC play. He also is an impressive 19-5 in doubles play with three different partners. Ranked as high as 63rd in singles and 17th in doubles this spring, he also was named All-MWC in singles for the third straight year.
A native of Duisburg, Germany, Nehles is only the third Rebel to earn his league's highest award. Roger Pettersson was named Big West Conference Player of the Year three times (1994-96) while Scott Warner was tabbed PCAA MVP in both 1986 and '87.
"This is a great honor for Henner and for Rebel tennis," second-year UNLV head coach Owen Hambrook said. "He has worked hard in becoming the best player in the Mountain West and is hitting on all cylinders as we head into the postseason."
Also earning all-conference status in singles was Las Vegas native Joel Kielbowicz. The junior, a product of Green Valley High School, stands 20-9 overall after going 4-1 vs. MWC opponents at the second and third positions in the lineup.
Kielbowicz and freshman partner David Campbell also earned a place on the All-MWC Doubles Team after posting an 8-6 mark.
New Mexico rookie Max Jones was tabbed MWC Freshman of the Year while BYU's James Ludlow earned the league's sportsmanship award. The coach of the year will be announced after Saturday's championship match.
UNLV opens the tournament Thursday vs. Utah.
2005 MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE MEN'S TENNIS AWARDS
PLAYER OF THE YEAR:Henner Nehles, UNLVFRESHMAN OF THE YEAR:Max Jones, New MexicoSPORTSMANSHIP AWARD:James Ludlow, BYUCOACH OF THE YEAR:To be announced April 30
2005 All-MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE
SINGLES**Henner Nehles, Sr., UNLVJoel Kielbowicz, Jr., UNLV**Shannon Buck, Jr., Air ForceBenedikt Stronk, Jr., San Diego State*Markus Dickhardt, So., San Diego StateNima Roshan, Jr., BYU*Ryan Stotland, Sr., New MexicoMax Jones, Fr., New Mexico*Tyler McClung, Sr., Air Force**David Kowalski, Sr., New MexicoTomasz Grzyb, Fr., UtahJames Ludlow, So., BYUArmando Carrascosa, Sr., San Diego State
DOUBLESDavid Campbell/Joel Kielbowicz, UNLVZach Ganger/Miron Mann, Utah*Ryan Stotland/David Kowalski, New MexicoJose Lechuga/Nima Roshan, BYUDominik Kaufhold/James Ludlow, BYUDontia Haynes/Daniel Jung, San Diego State
**Three-time All-MWC selection*Repeat selection
