June 28, 2006

LAS VEGAS - UNLV boasts five women's tennis players who earned spots on the 2006 Academic All-Mountain West Conference Team, which was released this week.

The Lady Rebels' impressive total, combined with the men's six honorees this year, meant the UNLV tennis teams set an overall record with 11 academic honorees.

The women's contingent was led by four-time winner Cindy Treber as the senior from France boasts a 3.57 grade point average in business management. Junior Claire Smith became a three-time winner while sophomore Sharon Marin was on the list for the second straight year. Mery Constanti was a member of the team for the second time in three seasons while record-breaking All-American Elena Gantcheva picked up her first league academic honor.

To be eligible for selection, a student-athlete must have completed at least one academic term at the member institution, maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better and be a starter or significant contributor.

One Lady Rebel - Smith -- earned the additional title of MWC Scholar-Athlete. To be eligible for selection student-athletes must have completed at least two academic terms at the member institution, while maintaining a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or better, and have participated in varsity competition for their team.

2006 UNLV MEMBERS OF THE ACADEMIC ALL-MWC TENNIS TEAM
PLAYER           YEAR       GPA  MAJORConstanti, Mery  Junior     3.27 Journalsim and Media StudiesGantcheva, Elena Sophomore  3.49 University StudiesMarin, Sharon    Sophomore  3.22 International BusinessSmith, Claire*   Junior     3.72 Kinesiological SciencesTreber, Cindy    Senior     3.57 ManagementAlso a MWC Scholar-Athlete Honoree