Jan. 4, 2006

LAS VEGAS - The UNLV men's and women's swimming and diving teams will see their toughest competition of the season on Thursday as the Rebels host a pair of top-25 teams in North Carolina and Notre Dame, while they will also be facing Wyoming in conference action as well. The meet will start at 2 pm at Buchanan Natatorium.

The Rebels will be seeing their first action since the UNLV Winter Invitational in December, where the men (3-1, 2-1) finished first while the UNLV women (2-3, 2-2) took third place. Leading the men's side is Joe Bartoch and freshman Johann Claar, who has won 13 consecutive collegiate races. On the women's side, the Rebels are led by a pair of freshmen, Bailey Kuestermeyer and Amanda Weinbrecht.

North Carolina is swimming the Rebels for the second straight season. The UNC men, who were upset by the Rebel men last year, are ranked 23rd, while the women's team is 21st. Notre Dame meanwhile is just bringing its women's team, which is ranked 24th. The meet will also count as a conference meeting between UNLV and Wyoming, who's women's team is 4-4, 1-2, while the Cowboy men are 1-3, 0-1 in league action.