Kliuch Named MW Player Of The Year -- First From UNLV Since 2018 - University of Nevada Las Vegas Athletics

Queen Of The Courts 👑🎾https://t.co/TLQWTvLzPy pic.twitter.com/ceylFRECKh
— UNLV Women's Tennis (@UNLVWTennis) April 22, 2026

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – Veronika Kliuch has been named Mountain West Women's Tennis Player of the Year to lead the regular-season champions' conference honors, which were announced Tuesday night on the eve of the league's postseason tournament here at the Darling Center.

Kliuch, a sophomore from Lviv, Ukraine, who competes at the top of the lineup, did not lose a singles match in conference play this season and sits 23-2 overall, 16-0 in dual matches and 7-0 vs. the MW. She is also 13-4 in doubles play, including 8-2 vs. the league. Kliuch, who was named MW Player of the Week twice this spring, is the first Rebel to earn the postseason honor since 2018. UNLV has boasted the league's player of the year 12 times as a member of three conferences, including three-time winners Elena Gantcheva in the MW and Marianne Vallin in the Big West and WAC.

Joining Kliuch on the All-MW Singles Team is Nikol Mircheva (Frankfurt, Germany). Playing at the No. 2 position, the junior is 19-6 overall, 14-2 in duals and 7-0 vs. Mountain West opponents.

Mircheva was also named to the All-MW Doubles Team along with partner Hudson Hawkins (Las Vegas). Playing at the top spot, the duo went 14-4 overall, 13-2 in duals and 7-2 in MW action. Hawkins, a graduate of Silverado High School, transferred home this year from Montana State in time for her junior season.

72nd-ranked UNLV, led by second-year head coach Tetiana Luzhanska, bolts into this week's MW Championship with a 17-3 overall mark that included a 10-1 record in the conference, tying for the league crown with San Diego State and Boise State. The Rebels will enjoy a first-round bye and then face the winner of Wednesday's match between Utah State and San Jose State. Thursday's quarterfinal matchup is scheduled to start with doubles play at 10 a.m. Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for students each day and can be purchased HERE. All men's and women's tournament matches are available to watch online at TheMW.com.

2026 ALL-MW SINGLES TEAM
Veronika Kliuch
Nikol Mircheva

2026 ALL-MW DOUBLES TEAM
Nikol Mircheva
Hudson Hawkins

UNLV WOMEN'S TENNIS CONFERENCE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
2026 – Veronika Kliuch (MW)
2018 -- Aiwen Zhu (MW)
2013 -- Aleksandra Josifoska (MW)
2012 -- Lucia Batta (MW)
2008 -- Elena Ganthcheva (MW)
2007 -- Elena Ganthcheva (MW) (Co-)
2006 -- Elena Ganthcheva (MW)
2000 -- Katarina Malec (MW)
1997 -- Marianne Vallin (WAC)
1996 -- Marianne Vallin (Big West)
1994 -- Marianne Vallin (Big West)
1990 -- Jolene Watanabe (Big West)

Players Mentioned

Hudson Hawkins

Veronika Kliuch

Nikol Mircheva

Aiwen Zhu

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