Just a year removed from a conference title, last season's edition of the UNLV men's tennis team suffered through some definite rebuilding pains en route to a 10-12 finish. This spring, however, expect the rejuvenated Rebels to step their way back into the conference contenders' circle.
Only one senior exits while a couple of other part-time starters are being replaced on the roster. Meanwhile, a trio of newcomers has hit town to inject more talent into the system and give sixth-year head coach Owen Hambrook a more well-rounded lineup.
"On paper, this is one of our best teams, if not the best," says Hambrook. "We have an excellent recruiting class. It could be the best since I've been here as we added three good players. However, there is a lot of inexperience too, so there will be a big adjustment period for the guys who have not yet played college tennis."
Hambrook will also be charged with successfully mixing his newbies with an existing base of proven veterans. That key ingredient is led by none other than senior standout Elliot Wronski, who surely will be among the favorites to win Mountain West Conference Player of the Year honors. Add in a very manageable 2009 schedule that includes 15 home matches to start the season and something seems to be cooking at the Fertitta Tennis Complex.
"Everyone's healthy and ready to go and there is no reason why we won't climb back into the rankings if we rise to the occasion against some opponents," he says. "We plan on challenging at the conference tournament again but we also want to take a shot at the regular-season championship, which we've never done before. I think it's a sign of a more consistent team and we are becoming more consistent as a program."
THE LINEUP Back for his third consecutive season as UNLV's unquestioned No. 1 singles player is Wronski (17-12 in singles in 2007-08). The two-time All-Mountain West honoree in both singles and doubles had an up and down junior campaign caused primarily by a bad back. Ranked 27th in the 2007 preseason, he disappeared completely from the rankings before posting a string of upsets and finally finishing at No. 85 after a 13-8 effort at the top of the dual lineup. Now back at full strength, Wronski figures to have saved his best for last.
"Elliot will play No. 1 for us again and the players on this team look up to him on the court and off," says Hambrook. "He had a frustrating year but now he's 100 percent. He had a very good final fall tournament of the year and will be a huge factor in our success. He is nationally ranked and I know one of his goals is to get back to the NCAA tournament along with competing for the (MWC) player of the year award."
The second spot in the lineup could be filled by a talented French import who will make his long-awaited debut in January. Highly recruited, Mehdi Bouras attended UNLV last year but will be a rookie in 2009 after not competing in the spring or fall.
"Mehdi is a very talented guy. He grew up in France but actually is a native of Algeria. He'll be playing in the upper part of the lineup right off the bat. We cannot wait to see him in action. He is a good student who will be a big part of our success this year in both singles and doubles."
Also challenging for time at the top of the lineup will be a pair of proven veterans. Junior Luca Barlocchi (19-10) won matches on courts 1-3 a year ago and the prolific student seemingly improves each spring.
"Luca has been an unbelievable member of this program," says his coach. "He is a straight-A student in the classroom who seems to get better and better every year on the courts. He had a big fall season and continues to live up to his nickname, The Swiss Wizard. He's proved himself to be one of the top players in the region and is the kind of guy that if the match is on the line, you need him out there."
The squad's other senior is another Rebel who has improved annually while working his way up the lineup, Wesley Burrows (16-12). The Californian had his best results at the No. 3 spot in '08, forging a 9-4 record there in duals.
"Wes is just a great all-around player. He has become tougher and tougher through his career and is now also one of the best doubles players on the team. As one-half of our senior class, he will be looked upon to provide leadership this spring."
Two more freshmen are next in line. Hungarian Attila Toth joined the program in the fall and turned in some encouraging results while German Nikolaj Wulff is the program's only January addition.
"Attila is a very good competitor and has a deceptively effective game. He'll only get better as he adjusts to the college game," says Hambrook. "Nikolaj is our first German since (2005 MWC Player of the Year) Henner Nehles and will be expected to contribute in both singles and doubles. He's a good addition but will have to jump in quickly."
Henderson native Bryan Miller (6-14) earned valuable experience as a freshman last year and should see duty in both singles and doubles.
"Bryan played well at times as a freshman. He has made changes to his game so we hope he'll help us even more this year. He is a local guy who has matured a lot and did well in the fall."
Rounding out the roster is junior Matthew Kunkel (1-5), a Utah native who will once again add depth to the Rebel attack.
Hambrook says UNLV will enjoy "lots of options" in doubles play in 2009. All-conference performer Wronski and Barlocchi are a potential top team while combinations of Burrows, Bouras, Toth, Wulff and Miller will mix it up to form the other duos.
THE SCHEDULE
The aforementioned jumbo-sized homestand begins with a doubleheader vs. Missouri-KC and Weber State on Jan. 24. More vital will be visits by No. 67 San Francisco on Jan. 30 and No. 73 Nebraska the following day.
Other ranked non-conference visitors include No. 63 UC Irvine, No. 71 Oklahoma, No. 14 Pepperdine and No. 41 Fresno State. UNLV's first road action will be potentially key neutral-site meetings with No. 21 Texas Tech and Minnesota in mid-March. In a quirk of scheduling, the Rebels' Mountain West Conference slate, which begins with a match vs. San Diego State in Colorado Springs on March 27, will offer no home matches this spring. UNLV will also play Air Force and New Mexico in Colorado before heading to Salt Lake City to take on Utah, TCU and BYU. The MWC tournament will take place April 22-25 in Albuquerque.
"The schedule is challenging and we will have a lot of opportunities vs. ranked teams," Hambrook says. "We play a bunch at home to start the season, which is good, but then we travel for every conference match. The Mountain West will again be competitive but TCU is the favorite in my opinion. But if we stay healthy, we'll be right there this season."
