REBEL CHECK-IN

ALEX KOBELT
UNLV MEN'S TENNIS
SENIOR
MASTER'S STUDENT IN URBAN LEADERSHIP
 
 
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – Alex Kobelt came to Las Vegas to earn his master's degree from UNLV while also helping the Rebels win a Mountain West championship and make a return to the NCAA party. The former Ohio State standout, who was ranked as high as No. 3 in the nation in doubles during his career, was well on his way to reaching those goals when the pandemic had other ideas, suddenly ending the team's schedule in mid-March.

Recently named All-Mountain West in both singles and doubles, Kobelt led a crew that bolted to its first 10-0 start in program history and set the school record for season winning percentage at .929.
UNLVRebels.com recently had a chance to check in with the star netter.

UNLVRebels.com: Your team got off its best start ever. Did that make seeing it end so abruptly even more painful?
ALEX KOBELT: I expected nothing less from both Coach (Owen) Hambrook and Coach (Ace) Matias as well as my teammates when it comes to our great start to the season. That's why I chose UNLV out of 60-plus offers (after deciding to transfer). Prior to UNLV I was a part of a program that was 32-3, 34-3, 33-4 and 33-3 the past four years so this was nothing new for me. What made it painful was our hard work this year was cut short due to something out of our control, which is not something to dwell over. The thing that still keeps me up at night was not being 14-0. We lost a heartbreaking 4-3 match to Arizona State. I lost 7-6 in the third set to a solid player who I beat earlier in the fall. As one of the leaders on this team it hurt to be responsible for our only team's loss this year.

UNLVRebels.com: How good do you think the Rebels would have been by the end of the season?
AK: There are no ceilings when it comes to this team's potential! I see our team working hard and winning a regular-season conference title and tournament title. I see that as an expectation for our team now and in the future. Coming from a National Championship team I have seen the highest levels of college tennis and there is no reason with how great of a coach both Hambrook and Matias are and with how they run this program that it cannot be a powerhouse. The team chemistry and belief is incredible and every spot in our lineup has depth when it comes to talent. I guarantee big things to come from this program.
 
U: Individually you were leading at the top of the lineups. What were your personal goals in the spring season?
AK: My goal this year was to learn how to become a leader and embrace that title. I feel like in this position you learn a lot about yourself and when it comes to self-improvement a leadership role is very important to take on. From a tennis standpoint my goals were to really discover myself on the court and clean up and fine tune a few things before playing professionally. Playing outdoors all year round, especially in altitude, throws some of the funkiest toughest conditions there are in tennis -- so embracing that challenge was a goal of mine too.
 
U: You are from Columbus, Ohio, and transferred to UNLV from a national powerhouse in the Big Ten Conference. What was the transition like for you and your family?
AK: The transition was easy for me, everything has been amazing. The support from everyone in Las Vegas is awesome and I think leaving Ohio State was the best decision I have made in my life. I am very proud and thankful to be a part of the Rebel family and call Las Vegas my home. As for my family, they have all enjoyed visiting me in Las Vegas and watching our home matches when they can.
 
U: How has it been for you adjusting to full-time remote learning? 
AK: Fortunately, from the start of my career at UNLV all my classes have already been online so not much has changed for me as far as school goes.
 
U: Where are you spending this time and who with during all of this?
AK: At first I spent some time in Las Vegas. I decided to fly home to Columbus to be with my family on April 5th and have been home ever since. I don't get to spend time with my family often and we are not all together often so it has been nice getting to spend time with my parents and older brother and sister.
 
U: What do you miss the most about being with your teammates?
AK: Definitely the locker room banter. Like I mentioned before, all my (master's) classes are online so seeing my teammates at practice is my favorite part of the day. It has been amazing being a part of this team culture and if I could redo it all, I wish I spent my whole college career here at UNLV.
 
U: Are you doing anything to better yourself that isn't related to school during this time?
AK: Tennis is not like most sports in the sense that it is truly a year-round sport with a few weeks off towards the end of the year that are mainly used for rest and preseason training. So, I have been using this time to better myself both physically and mentally on and off the court. To keep it short I have been using this time to analyze everything and to unlearn bad or unnecessary habits and form new good habits. I find the time off relaxing and very helpful. From a tennis standpoint I have access to an indoor court 24 hours a day so I have been able to really spend the time tweaking small things in my game that usually a player doesn't have.
 
U: What has been the biggest challenge during this period for you?
AK: Usually when I come back home I get really excited because not only do I get to see my family but I also get to see a lot of my friends from home and Ohio State. I was in a fraternity at Ohio State and it has been hard staying away from them while I have been home as they have played a huge role in my life. Without each and every one of them I wouldn't be where I am today. Hopefully I will get to catch up with all 100 of them before I head back to Las Vegas. (Rush TKE!)

U: What have you binge watched during this time?
AK: I watched a few of the newer shows that recently came out but I had to re-watch some of favorites such as Westworld, Entourage, Workaholics and Eastbound & Down.

U: What are you most looking forward to when this time of social distancing ends?
AK: Catching up with a few friends here in Columbus and then heading back out to Vegas to get back to work and get ready for what's to come.