It didn't take winning the school's first two NCAA tennis titles to make 1997 a successful season for the UNLV men's team - but it sure helped.
Yes, the Rebels completed a fine campaign during their inaugural WAC season even before that magical week in Los Angeles.
Yes, Head Coach Larry Easley's squad had some big wins and made some national noise well in advance of two Rebels turning the collegiate game on its ear.
Yes, 1997 was going to be remembered as another in an increasingly impressive string of successful years for UNLV men's tennis.
However, it was not until that final day of May in sunny Southern California that UNLV men's tennis was changed forever.
I997 began quietly enough. "We were coming off a good year in '96 and were breaking in a new No. 1 player in Luke Smith so I didn't know what to expect," Easley said.
The season opened with the usual road swing to visit SoCal's traditional power programs and UNLV almost knocked off No. 2 UCLA before falling, 4-3. The Rebels got well at home by winning their second consecutive UNLV Men's Invitational championship, only dropping one point in the process.
Moving on to its usual berth in the HEB Tournament in Corpus Christi, Texas, UNLV rebounded from a first-round loss to win its next three matches in the loser's bracket.
The Rebels then won their second team tourney of the spring by whipping three ranked schools en route to earning the crown at the 16-school UCSB Invitational.
Easley called it the biggest non-league tournament championship in school history. "To win a tournament that had the No. 2 team in the nation (Boise State) and to beat the team who beat them (Harvard in the finals) is really saying something."
Three more big wins over Western powers Arizona, Fresno State and BYU followed before Utah handed UNLV its first-ever WAC loss in the regular season's finale. Despite the defeat, the Rebels moved back into the top 25 for the first time in a year. Earning the top seed among 14 teams, UNLV headed into its first WAC championship tournament looking for its fourth consecutive league title.
After a first-round bye, the Rebels won a 4-3 squeaker over BYU to begin play in Fort Worth, Texas. Moving indoors because of bad weather, UNLV took care of Tulsa, 4-2, to reach the finals.
Then - heartbreak.
The Rebels blew a 3-1 lead to host TCU and fell 4-3. The title ultimately came down to the third singles match where Talito Corrales rallied to win the final three games and down Julius Pohjola 6-4, 5-7, 7-5, to carry the third-seeded Horned Frogs to a crushing victory.
Luke Smith was named to the first-team all-conference squad in singles and doubles along with Blenkiron. Rock-solid Asaf Tishler earned second-team honors after turning in a 25-9 record at No. 2 singles.
UNLV got off the mat and put on its hosting apron by welcoming seven other teams to the Fertitta Tennis Complex for the NCAA Region VII Championship. The Rebels earned the second seed in what was their fourth consecutive post-season appearance.
Pitted against WAC foe New Mexico in the first round, UNLV gutted out a 4-3 marathon win when Mike Imber came back from one set down to win at the sixth spot.
"Our experience came through for us tonight," Easley said after the thriller. "You don't know who is going to win all the time but if you have six guys all competing hard, then you're going to be fine."
The semifinal fashioned a rematch with revitalized Fresno State. After things were even at two apiece, the Bulldogs won two three-setters to clinch a 4-2 victory and knock out the Rebels while handing them their first home loss of the season in 11 matches. FSU moved on to upset USC the next day, marking the second consecutive year that UNLV lost to the eventual champion in the semis on its home court.
The 20-7 record represented the most wins for a Rebel team since 1983 and the final ranking of 31 was the second highest finish in school history. Still, something was missing.
"Every year during my career I have had something to point to -- some accomplishment by the guys that made it a big year," Easley said. "After the season, I couldn't put my finger on any one success. Losing in the WAC finals and then to Fresno after we had already beat them earlier really left a hole in the year."
At first glance, the nationals didn't seem to offer any anecdote for the coach. Smith, a senior who had been wildly up and down in the rankings all season, headed to his second NCAA championships hoping to win enough to reach All-American status. Doubles partner Blenkiron, also a senior, was just happy to be making his first-ever trip to nationals.
But something was noticeably different from the first day. Smith, who was always a tremendous athlete, had suddenly harnessed his huge service game. Ranked 65th and unseeded, the Australian won in short fashion in the first round, joining Scott Warner (1987) as the only UNLV men's players to ever win a NCAA match.
He upset six seed Cedric Kauffman of Kentucky the next day while also advancing in doubles. A nice run to be sure but the tennis world didn't have to take notice until day three when Smith, refusing to have his serve broken, routed two more opponents, including UCLA's Kevin Kim on his own court. The wins almost overshadowed the fact that Smith and Blenkiron, ranked 19th and unseeded, dispatched the nation's top-ranked doubles team in straight sets that evening to also advance.
"I haven't lost my serve all tournament, so I was pretty confident and was able to concentrate on my volley," Smith said. "I'm very excited...I didn't expect to reach this far. Now I have nothing to lose. We'll see if I can pull off another upset."
Consider it done. Smith excused Olivier Tauma of Virginia Commonwealth, 7-6, 6-2 in the semifinals. He also won two more doubles matches as a nightcap.
Two NCAA championship matches were set. Six players were scheduled to compete. Three of them were USC Trojans. Three of them were Rebels. It was the first time since 1966 that both singles finalists also competed in the doubles championship.
The singles were first. Smith faced George Bastl just minutes from his L.A. campus. It didn't take long. The incredible run continued with a sixth consecutive straight-set victory, 6-1, 7-6.
"I knew Luke could put it all together," Easley said. "He had reached the finals in doubles in Grand Slams so he showed he can play at that level. The biggest accomplishment came when he won the finals with all that pressure -- with all the people and media from Las Vegas now in the stands. He always had the talent. Now he really showed that he was maturing."
The doubles were over just as quickly. Blenkiron played his best tennis as a Rebel and inspired the pair to a 6-4, 6-4, win over Bastl and Kyle Spencer.
"Tim caught the fever and Luke's success rubbed off on him," their coach said. "The pressure was off after singles because we already had the one title and they really went out and smoked them. Tim played his best-ever match by far."
Smith and Blenkiron not only were the toast of NCAAs but of the entire Silver State. On June 9, the pair traveled to Carson City with Easley to be honored by the Nevada State Assembly and Senate as well as Governor Bob Miller.
"It was definitely a milestone," Easley said. "It showed that UNLV can develop a national champion. It's not often the title doesn't go to one of the big guys. If a 65th-ranked player can win the national championship than that gives hope to everybody."
Smith's final ranking shot up 45 spots to 20th while the doubles team tied the school record for highest-ever ranking at No. 2. The Awesome Aussies also both led the 1997 Men's Rolex All-Star Team, which assembled in New York in August.
Many months later, with Smith finding success as a pro, Blenkiron finishing up his degree and the two ultimate accomplishments now proudly added to the Fertitta honors board, it is apparent the unlikely events permanently changed how the college tennis world looked at UNLV.
"It's a symbol for teams and players across the country," Easley said. "You look out there and see visiting players taking their pictures under the national championship sign and you realize that it was a bigger event than usual. You know that something special happened."
