LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - UNLV senior Alexandr Cozbinov was named the 2018 Mountain West Men's Tennis Player of the Year as the league announced its annual awards during a banquet held in San Diego Wednesday evening.

The Chișinău, Moldova, product is the sixth UNLV men's player to win a league MVP award but the second in as many years. He joins last year's winner, former Rebel Jakob Amilon; the late Mehdi Bouras (2011); and Henner Nehles (2005) as winners of the MW honor as well as three-time winner Roger Pettersson (1994-96 in the Big West Conference) and two-time honoree Scott Warner (1986-87 in the PCAA).

With UNLV star Aiwen Zhu taking home the women's award from the Mountain West earlier Wednesday, this marked the first time that the Rebels boasted both the men's and women's tennis players of the year in the same season since Pettersson and fellow-Hall of Famer Marianne Vallin were both recognized by the Big West Conference in 1994 and '96.

Cozbinov, who is ranked No. 96 in the nation in singles, is 18-8 overall, 16-4 in dual matches and finished 5-2 vs. conference foes. He made big news earlier this year when he shocked the nation's No. 1 player, Martin Redlicki of UCLA, in three sets on the Bruin star's home court.

Cozbinov is one of two Rebels who were named to this year's all-conference team. Joining him in both singles and doubles honors is senior Courtney Lock, a Harare, Zimbabwe, native who transferred from Louisville to play his final two seasons as a Rebel. Appearing at the No. 2 position in the lineup, Lock went 4-2 in MW play in singles while the duo of Lock and Cozbinov are 12-7 overall.

UNLV is in San Diego, preparing to open play at the 2018 Mountain West Men's Tennis Championship. The Rebels open quarterfinal action Thursday vs. UNR at the Aztec Tennis Center. All seven matches of the tournament will be broadcast live and for free on the Mountain West Network.

For more information on the 2018 Mountain West Men's Tennis Championship, including live stream and live results links, visit the Championship Central Page on TheMWC.com.

2018 MW MEN'S TENNIS AWARDS
PLAYER OF THE YEAR:Alexandr Cozbinov, UNLV
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR:Cem Erturk, Fresno State
COACH OF THE YEAR: TBD

Mountain West All-Conference Singles
Jack Heslin, Jr., Boise StateXander Veys, Sr., Fresno StateZdenek Derkas, So., Fresno StateMantas Burgailiskis, Jr., Fresno StateJulien Evrard, So., UNRRicky Hernandez Tong, Jr., New Mexico Bart Van Leijsen, Sr., New MexicoArnaud Restifo, So., San Diego StateAlexandr Cozbinov, Sr., UNLVCourtney Lock, Sr., UNLVJaime Barajas, Sr., Utah StateSergiu Bucur, So., Utah State
2018 All-Mountain West Team Doubles
Jack Heslin/Kyle Butters - Boise State Julien Evrard/Kostya Nesterenko - UNR Bart Van Leijsen/Jorge Escutia - New Mexico Sander Gjoels-Andersen/Rafael Gonzalez - San Diego State Courtney Lock/Alexandr Cozbinov - UNLV Jaime Barajas/ Jose Carvajal - Utah State