Jan. 26, 2006

LAS VEGAS - The UNLV men's tennis team heads to Southern California for a pair of dual matches this weekend to begin the 2006 season.

The Rebels, ranked 59th nationally, will face unranked UC Irvine on Friday at 1:30 p.m. and then tangle with No. 37 San Diego on Saturday at 12:30 p.m.

Third-year head coach Owen Hambrook's Rebels are coming off a season highlighted by the program's most victories (16) since 1997 and a first-ever upset of a top-10 opponent.

UNLV returns four of six starters to the lineup but must replace 2005 Mountain West Conference Player of the Year Henner Nehles. Taking his place at the top of the singles lineup will be Las Vegas native Joel Kielbowicz, who was ranked 85th in the preseason. The squad's only other senior this spring will be Romain Massaro.

"We have a solid group and the potential to be successful," Hambrook said. "It will be a question of meeting our performance goals day in and day out. If we are consistent and pull together as a team, I like our chances."