May 14, 2007
LAS VEGAS - The UNLV men's tennis program, which closed out its team season over the weekend by playing in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1999, earned two regional honors from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association on Monday.
Owen Hambrook was named the ITA Mountain Region Head Coach of the Year for the first time while sophomore standout Elliot Wronski was named the ITA regional Player to Watch.
Hambrook has compiled a 54-38 record in four seasons at UNLV and his .587 winning percentage ranks second all-time at the school. This spring, his Rebels won the Mountain West Conference tournament championship for the first time since the league was formed eight years ago. It was the program's first league title of any kind since 1996. The team also boasts the highest cumulative grade point average of any of the school's athletic teams at 3.38.
Hambrook is the second UNLV men's coach to win the award, joining the late Larry Easley, who won it in 1998 and 2001.
Wronski, who is currently the first alternate for the NCAA Singles Championship field, has become the third Rebel to win the player to watch award, joining Asaf Tishler in 1997 and Roger Pettersson in 1994.
The ITA Player to Watch Award goes to a player who has an outstanding season and is expected to perform at a high level the rest of his or her career. This award's criteria also includes a player's sportsmanship and character.
Wronski, a native of Cheltenham, England, is currently ranked 60th in the nation after compiling a singles record of 19-12. His sophomore campaign has included downing seven ranked opponents, highlighted by shocking then-third-ranked Tony Paul of Wake Forest in straight sets on March 9. He also became only the second men's player in school history to be named conference player of the week three times in one season.
"As soon as Elliot got here last year, he showed a great deal of potential," said Hambrook. "This season he stepped up to our No. 1 position and took his place in a long line of top singles players for UNLV. With continued hard work, the sky is the limit."
National winners will be announced on May 22 in Athens, Ga. Regional award winners are finalists for the national awards.
