With a long history of ranked No. 1 singles players who set the foundation for the team's overall success, UNLV men's tennis in 2007 hopes its newest lineup topper can get the Rebels back near the top of the conference standings.
Fresh-faced Brit Elliot Wronski, who didn't even start playing for the Scarlet & Gray until last January, will be the second-youngest No. 1 player for UNLV since sophomore Roger Pettersson was beginning his three-year All-American run in 1994 (eventual MWC MVP Henner Nehles was the youngest when he took over No. 1 as a freshman in 2002).
If Wronski can even get close to Pettersson's record-setting production this spring, fourth-year head coach Owen Hambrook may have a long-term nucleus around which to continue building his program. That would mean improving on the record of last year's No. 1 - Joel Kielbowicz and his 15-11 overall mark - to help spark a lineup that looks to be Hambrook's most solid from top to bottom.
"Last year was frustrating because we did not have much depth to the lineup," Hambrook says. "This year we lose our No. 1 and 2 players but we should be a better team because we're better from top to bottom. If we can stay healthy, I think we can be very successful."
The team, which heads into the season ranked 64th, will also have the pleasure of playing on new, state-of-the-art courts that are part of a $2 million renovation project at the Fertitta Tennis Complex.
"We're very fortunate to have all-new courts," says Hambrook. "To the best of my knowledge, it's the newest facility in college tennis. A great stadium like Fertitta makes it great to come to work every day."
THE LINEUP
Wronski won his first seven matches and 13 of his first 14 as a collegian but that success came mostly at the Nos. 3-4 positions in the lineup. However, Hambrook says he isn't worried about the sophomore making the big move.
"Elliot surely has big shoes to fill going up to the No. 1 position but we think he is totally capable of being successful at the top spot," says Hambrook. "He is a very talented player who is also technically sound. With him continuing to keep a positive attitude, the sky is the limit."
Along with replacing Kielbowicz, UNLV also must find a new No. 2 man as four-year starter Romain Massaro (11-16 in 2006) graduated. A top candidate for the slot is hard-working senior Brett Hunter (13-7), who was a spiffy 8-1 on court three in 2006 after transferring in from Auburn during the semester break.
"Brett is the ultimate competitor," says Hambrook. "He knows how to win and he's always ready to play no matter what. We're expecting a big year from him."
The squad's other senior could also make a move up the lineup as Jonathan Hooper (15-12) finished 13-7 last season while shifting back and forth between the fifth and sixth spots.
"Johnny's heading into his final year and has a good chance to move up in the lineup. To have a successful senior year he needs to keep a positive attitude and maintain a high level of intensity."
A pleasant surprise a year ago, Wesley Burrows (12-9) raised expectations after going 9-5 in the bottom half of the lineup as a freshman and then turning in the best fall season on the team.
"Wes Burrows has improved tremendously. He did some good things last year and then had some very impressive wins in the fall. We're expecting him to play higher in the lineup in both singles and doubles."
Veteran David Campbell (5-8), who has earned All-Mountain West Conference honors for his doubles play for two years running, looks to rebound from a tough sophomore season in singles.
"David worked hard this fall to get into good playing shape. He has always been a great shot-maker and a good competitor. We're hoping for better results from him this spring."
Hambrook's recruiting class could also yield two starters, led by Luca Barlocchi who already showed great promise in the fall and could play nearly anywhere in the lineup. Coaches hope the freshman can one day be as effective as the school's last tennis player from Switzerland, 2002 All-American Thomas Schneiter.
"Luca is a great competitor who continues to improve at a rapid pace. He is a smart, composed player who reminds me of (former Rebel and current Lady Rebel assistant coach) Aviram Salomon. No doubt, Luca will be a big part of our success this year."
The team's only January addition, Slavko Bijelica, is the program's first Serbian since the nation's former No. 1-ranked doubles team of Nenad Zivkovic and Gregor Skorin left half a decade ago.
"Slavko was a highly ranked junior in Serbia. He is an experienced competitor and we expect him to step up and contribute immediately."
Another rookie, Matthew Kunkel out of Park City, Utah, will add depth to the squad while still making the transition to the college game.
In doubles, Wronski and Hunter, who went 11-6 in dual matches last year, figure to make up one team while Burrows and Barlocchi could play together along with multiple other combinations to help UNLV's cause.
THE SCHEDULE
The men's program will take a big step up in competition this season as it faces its most challenging schedule in years, including a trip to play the defending national champion. An eye-popping 15 of the Rebels 21 dual-match opponents in 2007 were included in the final ITA Rankings.
"Our team has been working hard in anticipation of playing such a talent-filled schedule," says Hambrook. "We'll face a lot of ranked teams both at home and on the road in 2007."
The dual-match season kicks off with Southern Miss coming to the Fertitta on Feb. 2. UNLV's first road trip the following week will be made up of a stop at the University of San Diego and national champion Pepperdine in Malibu. After a final non-conference tilt at USC, Mountain West play opens on March 29 when UNLV takes on BYU in San Diego. In fact, the Rebels play their entire six-team league slate on the road this season, including visiting TCU for the first time since the two were members of the Western Athletic Conference in 1998.
"It will be a challenge playing all of our conference games away from home but we are capable of defeating any team in the league," says Hambrook. "The conference is wide open in my opinion, unlike last year when TCU was a dominant team."
The MWC Championships will be held this spring on the campus of Air Force from April 26-28. "We have a very tough schedule," says Hambrook. "However, we feel that the guys we have are capable of being up to the challenge."
