The on-going revitalization of UNLV men's tennis took another up-tick in 2005 as the squad returned to the nation's top 40 and posted its first-ever win over a top-10 ranked team en route to an overall 16-8 mark. Now, third-year head coach Owen Hambrook hopes the team's first new No. 1 singles player since 2003 can help the Rebels continue the climb.
"We were a senior-driven team a year ago and even though we were never at full strength, overall we were successful and showed the potential of UNLV men's tennis," Hambrook says of a team that boasted perennial All-MWC performer Aviram Salomon (61-41 career singles record) and 2005 conference MVP Henner Nehles, who fell one win short of All-America status (29-9 in singles).
"We received great leadership from Henner and Aviram and that is something I hope we can find from this year's team. We're young overall but then again, all but one of the players on the roster has played at least one college season." Even with a new top dog in the lineup, Hambrook says he sees no reason why UNLV cannot continue its return to winning ways in 2006. "We have a pretty solid group and have the potential to be successful. It will be a question of meeting our performance goals day in and day out. We need to be consistent and pull together as a team but I like our chances."
THE LINEUP
Any talk of who leads the UNLV men in 2006 begins and ends with senior Joel Kielbowicz (20-10 in singles last year). The Las Vegas native's Phoenix-like rise in the lineup saw the former transfer improve from four victories to 13 to 20 and now to heir apparent to a long line of national-level No. 1 singles players for the Rebels.
Hindered at times by injuries late last spring, Kielbowicz, who turned in a 10-3 mark at No. 2 singles, looks to be 100 percent come dual-match time. That means he could work his way into being a candidate to become the program's fourth-ever conference MVP.
"Joel began showing signs that he was ready to play No. 1 for us last year when he got some big wins high in the lineup," says Hambrook. "He has improved every year here and now he has his health back. He is extremely talented and a really hard worker. Joel's capable of beating anyone in the country. He is a good team player who thrives in the dual matches. He can do it all: stay back and rally, serve and volley, come into the net, play from the baseline. He has a good serve and can hit all the shots in all conditions."
The team's other returning senior, Romain Massaro (14-18), showed signs in the fall of finally finding some consistency in anticipation of most likely moving into the lineup's No. 2 slot. A fiery competitor, Massaro hopes to greatly improve on his 39-39 career mark.
"Romain is finally living up to his potential and turned in a very good fall performance. He is working hard on certain areas of his game and is looking to have his best year ever. He is playing with a lot of confidence and has a maturity about him that we will need out there." A pair of youngsters who joined the team just last January should make up the next two spots as sophomores David Campbell (11-8) and Jonathan Hooper (10-7) figure to benefit greatly from now having a season under their belts.
Campbell saw limited fall tourney action but will move up in the lineup after working at Nos. 4-6 a year ago, which included a spiffy 7-1 mark on court five.
"David is a very aggressive, talented Australian," says Hambrook. "He will play a significant part in our success this year. He still needs to get stronger physically but has definitely shown promise. He's capable of winning against anyone he plays and plays well under pressure." Hooper won his first seven collegiate matches but faded late in the season. Hambrook says that shouldn't happen in the New Zealander's sophomore campaign.
"Jonathan made the adjustment to the college level and now will be expected to produce. He had a great start and needs to be a consistent performer day in and day out. He has a big serve and big forehand and will be a big part of our year."
A pair of newcomers will play prominent roles this spring in the form of freshman recruit Wesley Burrows and transfer Brett Hunter. Burrows compiled a 3-4 fall tourney record and will push the returning players above him in the lineup.
"Wes was an under-the-radar Southern Cal kid and I feel we were lucky to get him out of that area," says Hambrook. "He is a very good all-court player and a solid doubles player. He's willing to make adjustments to improve his game and is someone that will only get better and better in college."
Hunter comes to the program in January after spending the last two seasons at Auburn. The Australian posted a 16-13 singles record at the Southeastern Conference school a year ago playing Nos. 3-6 for the Tigers. "Brett is a talented transfer with a stellar record as a juniors player," says Hambrook. "He'll be expected to contribute in the lineup for us right away."
THE SCHEDULE
After picking up some big non-conference victories a year ago, UNLV will get more chances at posting statement matches in '06, and they won't have to wait long. The season debuts in late January with road trips to Big West Conference power UC Irvine and top-40 program San Diego.
"It's a challenging schedule throughout and we start off with two solid programs and play some tough opponents away from home," says Hambrook. "On paper there is a mix of teams we should beat and those that would be an upset."
February brings regional rivals Weber State, Idaho State and New Mexico State to the Fertitta Tennis Complex. Southern Miss and UC Riverside round out the five-match homestand before another California trip that includes Fresno State and a neutral-site matchup with Oregon.
March means a return to the always-tough HEB Team Invitational in Corpus Christi, Texas. Two teams that visited Las Vegas a year ago return in the form of Ball State and South Carolina, the latter of which won a nail-biter over the Rebels a year ago en route to a top-20 national finish. After a trip to another top-20 team, Southern California, Mountain West Conference action begins March 31. Air Force, Utah and San Diego State all come to Fertitta while the Rebels will play BYU, TCU and New Mexico in Salt Lake City. The seven league teams will all head to San Diego for the annual MWC Championships on April 27-29.
"The addition of a historically powerful TCU program just makes this league that much tougher," says Hambrook. "The regulars such as San Diego State, New Mexico and BYU will join us in the hunt while Utah will be a dark horse contender."
