April 3, 2005

SAN DIEGO - The 40th-ranked UNLV men's tennis team saw its hopes for a first-ever regular-season Mountain West Conference title fade away with a 5-2 loss at San Diego State Sunday.

UNLV fell to 13-6 overall and 1-2 in the league while the surging Aztecs won their sixth in a row to improve to 10-5 overall and earn a commanding 3-0 mark in MWC play.

The Rebels were strong up top as they won at the No. 1 spot in both doubles and singles.

In doubles, the duo of Joel Kielbowicz and David Campbell got by Benedikt Stronk and Armando Carrascosa, 9-7. However, the hosts won the other two matches to grab a 1-0 lead.

In singles, senior Henner Nehles continued his bid for MWC player of the year honors by upsetting 43rd-ranked Stronk 7-6, 6-2. Nehles remained perfect vs. league opponents this spring and now stands 23-8 overall. UNLV's other point came at court two where Kielbowicz rolled over Markus Dickhardt 6-2, 6-1 to improve his record to 18-8.

The Rebels will look to earn a split in their four-match road swing when they play at UC Riverside Monday at 2 p.m.

UNLV MEN'S TENNIS RESULTSSAN DIEGO STATE 5, #40 UNLV 2At SDSU Tennis Stadium, San Diego, CA
DOUBLES: (SDSU EARNS ONE TEAM POINT)1. Kielbowicz/Campbell (UNLV) def. Stronk/Carrascosa (SDSU) 9-72. Jung/Haynes (SDSU) def. Nehles/Salomon (UNLV) 8-53. Dickhardt/Eugenio Romero (SDSU) def. Hooper/Martin Redelinghuys (UNLV) 8-2
SINGLES: (SDSU EARNS FOUR TEAM POINTS)1. Henner Nehles (UNLV) def. #43 Benedikt Stronk (SDSU) 7-6, 6-22. Joel Kielbowicz (UNLV) def. Markus Dickhardt (SDSU) 6-2, 6-13. #93 Armando Carrascosa (SDSU) def. Romain Massaro (UNLV) 3-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-4)4. Chris Groh (SDSU) def. Aviram Salomon (UNLV) 6-3, 6-15. Dontia Haynes (SDSU) def. Jonathan Hooper (UNLV) 6-2, 6-26. Daniel Jung (SDSU) def. David Campbell (UNLV) 6-2, 6-2