Feb. 15, 2010

LAS VEGAS - UNLV baseball was picked to finish sixth in the 2010 preseason Mountain West Conference poll, which was released by the conference today and was voted on by the league's seven head coaches and a select media panel.

UNLV senior outfielder Rance Roundy represented the Rebels on the preseason All-MWC team, which was voted on by the league's head coaches. Roundy hit .364 with three home runs and 32 RBI, and he ended 2009 hitting safely in 15 of the last 16 games of the season, raising his average nearly 80 points in the process.

Four-time defending MWC champion TCU was the unanimous favorite to win its fifth consecutive regular season league, as the Horned Frogs received all 10 first-place votes and 70 points overall, while New Mexico garnered 55 points to finish second in the poll. San Diego State collected 47 points for a third-place ranking in the poll, while defending MWC Tournament champion Utah was fourth (45 points). Rounding out the poll were BYU in fifth (28 points), the Rebels in sixth (22 points) and Air Force in seventh (13 points).

TCU returns five starters from a 2009 squad that captured the NCAA Fort Worth Regional championship and advanced to the program's first NCAA Super Regional. All-Conference members Bryan Holaday (Sr./C), Taylor Featherston (So./SS) and Trent Appleby (Sr./RHP) anchor the Frogs' roster. TCU posted a 15-5 record in Conference play before finishing the season with a 40-18 overall record and No. 14 ranking in the final 2009 Baseball America poll.

New Mexico returns five starters in 2010, led by Preseason All-American Rafael Neda (Jr./C), a two-time all-MWC honoree, and Max Willett (Sr./OF), a 2009 all-MWC selection. The Lobos were 37-20 overall last season, posting a second-place finish in the MWC standings with a 15-8 mark.

San Diego State returns seven starters this season, led by 2009 NCBWA Stopper of the Year and consensus All-American Addison Reed (Jr./RHP), along with fellow all-MWC honorees Brandon Meredith (So./1B) and Cory Vaughn (Jr./OF). The Aztecs posted a fourth-place Conference finish (15-9) en route to a 41-23 overall mark and NCAA Regional appearance.

The 2010 regular season opens Friday, February 19, with all seven MWC teams in action. The conference season begins Thursday, March 18 with TCU hosting BYU. The 2010 Conoco Mountain West Conference Baseball Championship is scheduled for May 25-29 at Tony Gwynn Stadium in San Diego, Calif.

The Rebels open their seventh season under head coach Buddy Gouldsmith by hosting Sacramento State in a three-game series that gets underway on Feb. 19 at 7:00 p.m. (PT) at Earl E. Wilson Stadium. Fan can purchase season and single-game tickets by calling 739-FANS or by logging onto www.unlvtickets.com.

2010 MWC PRESEASON POLL (selected by MWC head coaches and media)

Rk.      Team (1st place votes)        Points1.       TCU (10)                      702.       New Mexico                    553.       San Diego State               474.       Utah                          455.       BYU                           286.       UNLV                          227.       Air Force                     13
2010 MWC PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM(selected by MWC head coaches)

Pos.     Name, Class                   InstitutionC        Rafael Neda, Jr.              New Mexico1B       Addison Gentry, Sr.           Air Force2B       Mitch Blackburn, Sr.          San Diego State3B       Nick Kuroczko, Sr.            UtahSS       Taylor Featherston, So.       TCUOF       Ryan Honeycutt, Jr.           New MexicoOF       Max Willett, Sr.              New MexicoOF       Cory Vaughn, Jr.              San Diego StateOF       Rance Roundy, Sr.             UNLVP        Addison Reed, Jr.             San Diego StateP        Kyle Winkler, So.             TCUUT/DH    Matt Alexander, Sr.           Air Force