Be A Rebel ...... 1 Fertitta Tennis Complex ...... 2-3 Academics ...... 4-5 on the cover Playing on UNLV’s all-new, $2 million Table of Contents ...... 6 home courts, returning All-American and Media Information/Quick Facts ...... 7 MWC Player of the Year Elena Women’s Head Coach Kevin Cory ...... 8 Gantcheva (top left) will lead the Lady Men’s Head Coach Owen Hambrook...... 9 Rebels along with seniors (bottom right L- Support Staff ...... 10 R) Mery Constanti, Linda Tempelfelde and Claire Smith. Emerging sophomore Meet the Players Elliot Wronski (top right) heads up the Rebels Women’s Roster and Pronunciation Guide ...... 12 along with seniors (bottom left L-R) Brett Hunter Women’s Season Outlook...... 13 and Jonathan Hooper. Cover photography Lady Rebel Player Profiles ...... 14-17 by Aaron Mayes/UNLV Photo Services, cover Men’s Roster and Pronunciation Guide ...... 18 graphic design by Paul Palmer. Men’s Season Outlook ...... 19 Rebel Player Profiles ...... 20-23 Frank & Vicki Fertitta/Rebel Athletic Fund ...... 24 credits the record Book The 2007 UNLV Men’s & Women’s Tennis Guide Women’s Season In Review ...... 26 was designed, written, typeset and edited by Mark 2005-06 Season Statistics ...... 27 Wallington of UNLV Sports Information. Assistance provided by Bryan Haines, Lady Rebel Records ...... 28 Andy Grossman, Mark Wasik and Rosa Guzman of UNLV Sports Information. Lady Rebel All-Americans ...... 29 Principal photography by Aaron Mayes/UNLV Photo Services. Select NCAA Lady Rebel Honors ...... 30 Championship photography by Cynthia Lum. Additional photography by Steve Women’s All-Time Roster ...... 31 Spatafore, Brian Albertson, Bryan Haines & Mark Wallington. Graphics work by Lady Rebels at the NCAA Championships ...... 32 Paul Palmer of UNLV Sports Marketing. Printing by RR Donnelley, Las Vegas. The Mountain West Conference ...... 33 Men’s Season In Review ...... 34 2005-06 Season Statistics ...... 35 Rebel Records ...... 36 reBs on the WeB! Grand Slam Titles ...... 37 Information, up-to-date statistics and re- Rebel All-Americans ...... 38-39 sults for UNLV Tennis are available 24 Rebel Honors ...... 40 hours a day on the World Wide Web. Men’s All-Time Roster ...... 41 Simply go to the address Rebels at the NCAA Championships ...... 42 unlvrebels.com and click on the sport’s link to reach the separate men’s and the University women’s sites. Rosters, records, Campus & Administration ...... 44-47 player biographies, match reviews and UNLV Athletic Facilities & Rebel Information ...... 48-52 any releases concerning all 17 UNLV Welcome to Las Vegas ...... Inside Back Cover varsity teams are fully archived. In- formation on all Mountain West Conference tennis can be found at TheMWC.com.

6 Media inForMation intervieWs All interviews with student-athletes or coaches of the UNLV men’s and women’s tennis teams must be arranged through Mark Wallington, Sports Information Contact. Requests should be made at least one day in advance.

credentials MARK WALLINGTON Sports Information Contact All UNLV home matches are free and open to the public. No credentials are needed but pho- tographers and videographers are requested to follow court access guidelines. Contact Mark PriMary Print oUtlets Wallington at the UNLV Sports Information Office Rebel Yell for information. Please note: credentials will be Las Vegas Review-Journal Jeff Wollard, Beat Writer Paul De Los Santos, Sports Editor issued for the NCAA men’s or women’s regional 1111 West Bonanza University of Nevada, Las Vegas — if awarded to Las Vegas. Contact Wallington to Las Vegas, NV 89106 4505 Maryland Parkway make any arrangements. (702) 339-7402 Las Vegas, NV 89154 [email protected] (702) 895-4822 [email protected] Las Vegas Sun services Ron Kantowski, Columnist Associated Press Sports Editor The UNLV Sports Information Office will furnish 2275 Corporate City Drive, Suite 300 Henderson, NV 89074 P.O. Box 70 a weekly statistics release during the season. Fol- (702) 259-4088 Las Vegas, NV 89125 lowing home events, post-match results for all work- [email protected] (702) 382-7440 ing media will be provided as well as faxed or e- [email protected] mailed to visiting schools’ media upon request. Telephone and fax service is available for infor- 2007 UNLV TENNIS QUICK FACTS mation transmission at the Fertitta Tennis Com- plex if needed post-match. A fully functional press Location: Las Vegas, NV 89154 Men’s Head Coach: room is made available during any NCAA Founded: 1957 Owen Hambrook (4th YR.) postseason play. Enrollment: 28,000 Hambrook’s Alma Mater: Nickname: Rebels NW Missouri State, 1991 Colors: Scarlet and Gray Record at UNLV/Pct./Career: Home Court: Fertitta Tennis Complex 41-24 (3 years)/.631/Same Facilities Capacity: 2,000 Men’s Assistant Coach: Conference: Mountain West Travis Rettenmaier (1st YR.) The Frank and Vicki Fertitta Tennis Complex President: Dr. David B. Ashley Men’s Tennis Office Phone: is located on Harmon Avenue between the Eller Faculty Representative: Andy Fry (702) 895-4489 Media Softball Stadium and the McDermott P.E. Athletics Director: Mike Hamrick Best Time To Call: building on the UNLV campus. Ample parking is Sr. Woman Administrator: Lisa A. Kelleher Weekday mornings available. From McCarran International Airport, Men’s 2006 Overall Record: 13-9 Women’s Head Coach: Kevin Cory (8th YR.) NCAA Finish: N/A simply follow Swenson Street past Tropicana Av- Cory’s Alma Mater: Oregon, 1990 enue and turn right onto Harmon Avenue. Final ITA Ranking: 64th Record at UNLV/Pct./Career: 2006 Conference Record/Finish: 106-54 (7 years)/.663/Same Regular Season 2-4/4th Women’s Assistant Coach: MWC Tournament 0-1/T5th Aviram Salomon (1st YR., UNLV, ‘06) Lettermen Returning/Lost: 5/2 Women’s Tennis Office Phone: Starters Returning/Lost: 4/2 SPORTS INFORMATION (702) 895-3009 PHONE: (702) 895-3207 Best Time To Call: Weekday mornings Tennis SID: FAX: (702) 895-0989 Women’s 2006 Overall Record: 14-7 Mark Wallington (14th YR.) NCAA Finish: N/A SID Office Phone/Cell Phone/Fax: Final ITA Ranking:50th MAILING ADDRESS: (702) 895-4472/528-6291/895-0989 2006 Conference Record/Finish: SID e-mail: TMC 74, Box 450004 Regular Season 5-2/T2nd 4505 Maryland Parkway [email protected] MWC Tournament 1-1/T3rd UNLV Website Address: Las Vegas, NV 89154-0004 Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 6/1 www.unlvrebels.com Starters Returning/Lost: 5/1

7 tennis staFF kevin cory WOMEN’S cory’s head coachinG record HEAD COACH YEAR SCHOOL RECORD PCT. MWC FINISH MWC TOUR. 2006 UNLV 14-7 .666 5-2 T2nd 1-1/T3rd 2005 UNLV 14-9 .609 5-2 3rd 2-1/2nd 2004 UNLV 16-7 .696 5-2 3rd 1-1/3rd 2003 UNLV 16-6 .727 6-1 1st 1-1/3rd 2002*# UNLV 20-4 .833 6-1 2nd 3-0/1st 2001 UNLV 11-12 .478 5-2 3rd 2-1/5th 2000* UNLV 15-9 .625 N A N A 3-0/1st CAREER 7 years 106-54 .663 32-10 NA 13-5 *MWC Coach of the Year #ITA Regional Coach of the Year

• 2002 ITA West Region Coach of the Year • Two-time MWC Coach of the Year

his team to new heights with the school’s first top-20 final national ranking, a ear Eight for Lady Rebel head coach Kevin Cory and the hits just keep second MWC title and a program-record .833 single-season winning percentage yon coming. after a 20-4 campaign that ended in the NCAA tournament. A veteran of the elite tennis world of the Southeastern Conference, Cory Sandwiched between his three league titles was the rebuilding year of 2001 was named to lead the UNLV women’s program on August 17, 1999. In the when UNLV still produced a third-place regular-season finish, a MWC Freshman ensuing seven years, Cory has firmly entrenched his team in the national rankings of the Year and another singles representative at the NCAA Championships. and himself as one of the top coaches in all the West. Active in his profession, In 2000, the rookie head coach sim- Cory was a member of the ITA National Committee from 2003-05 and continues ply led his squad to the school’s first- to serve on the West Region Committee. ever league championship, helped guide His strong leadership of Lady Rebel Tennis is evident on an annual basis. the greatest individual postseason in The facts: The 2006 team moved as high as 37th and finished among the nation’s UNLV history and was named Moun- top 50 for the fifth straight season. Individually, the Lady Rebels boasted a tain West Conference Coach of the Year. singles All-American and conference MVP and saw two players end the season All of college tennis took notice when ranked for only the second time in school history. The 2005 squad went to its third a pair of Lady Rebels, Katarina Malec Mountain West Conference championship match in the event’s six-year history, and Marianne Bakken earned spots into earned a spot in the nation’s top 30 as a team and the top 25 for a singles player, the 2000 NCAA Championships and and secured a return to the NCAA Championships. One year earlier, UNLV surged deeper into the tournament than produced an 11-2 home record and returned a singles player to the ITA Rankings. any women in school history, including In 2003, the Lady Rebels broke the school record for highest preseason ranking Malec’s appearance in the national semi- (17th), won their first-ever regular-season conference title, stayed in the nation’s finals. top 25 for a bulk of the season and went to the NCAA tourney. In 2002, Cory led “We have a lot to be proud of in the last seven years,” Cory says. “I think that the sky is the limit for our tennis program. We will settle for nothing less than competing for the conference cham- pionship every year and being a factor in the NCAA tournament.” Moving from one Lady Rebel program to another, Cory came to Las Vegas from the University of Mississippi where he had served as assistant coach since 1996. The 1998 ITA National Assistant Coach of the Year, Cory helped the Lady Rebels from UM earn a place among the national powers of college tennis, including the school’s most successful season in history. In 1999, Ole Miss set a school record for most victories (24-5), posted a best-ever final ranking (sixth), won its first SEC tournament championship with an upset of top-ranked Florida, and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championships. Cory moved to Ole Miss after three years as director of tennis for the Umpqua Valley Tennis Club in Roseburg, Ore. In addition, he coached the Roseburg High School team to two consecutive state runner-up finishes. He began his career at Courthouse Athletic Club in Salem, Ore., after graduating from the University of Oregon in 1990 with a bachelor’s degree in sports management. The four-year letterman for the Ducks played No. 1 singles and doubles as a senior and was a 1990 first team All-Pac-10 selec- tion while finishing in the top 10 in career victories at the school. A native of California, he is a 1985 graduate of Los Altos High School. Cory married the former Jennifer Ritz in 2000 and the couple welcomed a son, Spencer, in 2003.

8 tennis staFF oWen haMBrook MEN’S haMBrook’s head coachinG record HEAD COACH YEAR SCHOOL RECORD PCT. MWC FINISH MWC TOUR. 2006 UNLV 13-9 .591 2-4 4th 0-1/T5th 2005 UNLV 16-8 .667 2-3 3rd 1-1/3rd 2004 UNLV 12-7 .632 3-1 2nd 0-1/3rd CAREER 3 years 41-24 .631 7-8 NA 1-3

• 2002 ITA Regional Assistant Coach of the Year

fter quickly jump-starting the motor of a program that seemed to be an- 2-14 record. However, he -nually stalling in the new millennium, UNLV men’s tennis head coach quickly pushed the team a Owen Hambrook is back for his fourth season. Standing second all-time back into the national in winning percentage at the school with .631 clip, he is also the first coach in rankings for the first time in program history to finish at least four wins over the .500 in each of his first three two years and UNLV's 12-7 seasons at the helm. overall mark in 2004 included Named the sixth head coach in Rebel history but the first new leader since a second-place regular- 1992, Hambrook moved over to the men’s side in 2003 after serving as the top season finish in the Mountain assistant for Kevin Cory and the UNLV women’s team, which added valuable West Conference and the continuity to the program. best home record (9-2) since After leading the men's team to a 10-win improvement in his first season 1997. The season also overseeing the program as an interim coach, Hambrook was rewarded for his produced a qualifier for the efforts by getting the job permanently, the athletic department announced on NCAA Singles June 4, 2004. That decision paid off immediately for the school as the 2005 Championship. Rebels posted the most victories (16) since 1997, finished 10-1 at home, downed "This is an exciting time a top-10 team for the first time in school history and returned to the ITA top 40 for the to be part of UNLV athletics," first time since 2001. The list of accomplishments also included the school’s first Hambrook said. "I'd like to thank the administration for making a dream come Mountain West Conference Player of the Year and ITA Regional Senior Player of true for me and I am grateful for the opportunity to run this program. I’ve always the Year in NCAA singles qualifier Henner Nehles. Last year’s squad won 13 loved coaching and consider it more a passion than a job. times and continued to successfully defend its home courts with a 9-1 mark at the “The overall, continuing goal is to get the program back where it was,” he Fertitta Tennis Complex. In fact, the UNLV men boast a shiny 28-4 home record said. “As a coach, I focus on individual performance goals and making sure under Hambrook. players work toward reaching them. If you achieve those, then the team results All of this success was not the norm at the beginning of the decade as will come.” Hambrook took over a squad that had set a school record for futility in 2003 with a Prior to taking over the men’s squad, Hambrook spent four years as an assistant with Lady Rebel tennis, including serving on the staff of the 2003 Mountain West Conference regular-season champions, and the 2000 and 2002 league tournament champion women’s teams. In 2002, Hambrook was recognized for his work when he was named ITA West Region Assistant Coach of the Year, only the second such honor in school history. Hambook joined UNLV after having served as director of the state’s largest junior program — the Junior Tennis Academy at the Sports Club of Las Vegas from 1996-2000. Previously, the certified tennis professional worked as the tennis pro at the MGM Grand Hotel for two years. Before moving to the Silver State, he served as pro at the Barrybrooke Tennis Club in Kansas City, MO, and then was director of the Heartland Tennis Camp at Missouri Western State College from 1993-95. Active in the USTA, he has been head coach for the Southern Nevada USTA Training Center and was honored as a USTA High Performance Coach in both 1998 and 2000. A 1991 graduate of Northwest Missouri State, Hambrook was a three-year member of the Bearcats’ tennis team. He and his wife, Julie, have a son, Jack (7) and a daughter, Hannah (4).

9 tennis staFF

aviraM saloMon WOMEN’S ASSISTANT COACH One of the most consistent and clutch players in school history, Aviram Salomon joined his alma mater as women’s assistant coach in January. A two-time first team All-Mountain West Conference honoree in singles, Salomon earned a career-high national ranking of 67 in the fall of 2004. A top student who earned ITA Scholar-Athlete honors three straight years, the native of Jerusalem, Israel, finished his four- year Rebel career with 61 singles victories and 38 doubles wins before graduating with a degree in hotel management. “We are excited to welcome Avi back to the program,” women’s head coach Kevin Cory said. “He was a strong player here and knows the ins and outs of UNLV Tennis, which we think will be a great benefit to the program.” travis rettenMaier MEN’S ASSISTANT COACH UNLV men's tennis welcomed former college standout and professional player Travis Rettenmaier to its staff in time for the 2006-07 season. Rettenmaier has been ranked among the world's top 300 players in both singles and doubles. A native of Camarillo, Calif., Rettenmaier was one of the top junior players in the world before deciding to attend UCLA. One of the youngest student-athletes to ever compete for the Bruins as a 16-year-old freshman, he compiled a 51-16 doubles mark and 32-9 singles record in two years in Westwood before turning professional after the 2001 dual-match season. He went on to earn career-high ATP rankings of 273rd in singles (February 2006) and 218th in doubles (August 2005). "I have been impressed with Travis his entire career,” said men’s head coach Owen Hambrook. “He will add a lot of energy to our program and it will be a big benefit for our players to work with a world-class player every day in practice." lisa kelleher ASSOCIATE AD/SWA

Lisa Kelleher is in her 15th season as UNLV’s Associate Athletics Director and Senior Woman Administrator. In her position, Kelleher provides administrative oversight to the day-to-day operations of nine of the school’s 17 varsity sports, including both the men’s and women’s tennis programs. In addition, Kelleher works on the department’s committees addressing gender equity and trade-outs and is a member of the UNLV Athletics Hall of Fame Committee. Active in the framework of the Mountain West Conference, Kelleher is a member of the league’s Academic/Eligibility, Recognition/Awards and Championships committees and serves as the liaison to swimming and diving. A native of Bellevue, Ohio, Kelleher came to UNLV in 1992 after working at the University of Florida from 1986- 1992. A 1979 graduate of Miami (Ohio) University with a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education, Kelleher earned her master’s degree from the University of Arizona in 1980. Kelleher and her husband, Peter, are the proud parents of four children: Molly, Bridget, Megan and Tara.

Brian Wilson VOLUNTEER MEN’S ASSISTANT COACH Former NCAA champion Brian Wilson joined the UNLV men's tennis staff as a volunteer assistant coach, head coach Owen Hambrook announced in December. Wilson, a Southern California native, was a two-time All-American at the University of Illinois and led the Illini to the 2003 NCAA team championship. The top seeded player in the 2004 NCAA singles event, Wilson had one year earlier won the national doubles crown with partner Rajeev Ram. A current member of the ATP Tour, Wilson has been ranked as high as 283rd in the world in singles and 166th in doubles. "Brian has been at the top of college tennis and knows what it takes to win and his insight and experience can only make us better," Hambrook said. "It also gives our guys a world-class player to learn from and play against in practice."

TONY TERRELL DAVID JACKSON JASON KABO RUEL RIGSBY TAUSHA SMITH Women’s Tennis Men’s Tennis Strength & Conditioning Graduate Assistant Equipment Academic Advisor Academic Advisor Athletic Trainer

10 11 2007 lady reBel roster

LEFT OF FENCE (LEFT TO RIGHT): Kristina Nedeltcheva, Nikol Dimitrova, Sharon Marin, Elena Gantcheva and Head Coach Kevin Cory. RIGHT OF FENCE (L-R): Seniors Mery Constanti, Claire Smith and Linda Tempelfelde. NOT PICTURED: Assistant Coach Aviram Salomon and Alisa Razina.

NAME CL-EX HT PLYS HOMETOWN/PREVIOUS SCHOOL Mery Constanti SR-3L 5-7 RH Barcelona, SPAIN/Leon XIII Nikol Dimitrova SO-1L 5-6 RH Sofia, BULGARIA/Stoychev Sports School Elena Gantcheva JR-2L 5-8 RH Sofia, BULGARIA/Stoychev Sports School Sharon Marin JR-2L 5-5 RH Jerusalem, ISRAEL/Hasharon HS Kristina Nedeltcheva FR-HS 5-7 RH Sofia, BULGARIA/Stoychev Sports School Alisa Razina FR-HS 5-6 RH Riga, LATVIA/Riga Tech Gymnasium Claire Smith SR-3L 5-7 RH Yarm, ENGLAND/Stokesley School Linda Tempelfelde SR-2L 5-7 RH Riga, LATVIA/Oklahoma Christian

HEAD COACH: PronUnciation GUide Kevin Cory (8th year/Oregon, 1990) Mery Constanti ...... con-ston-TEE ASSISTANT COACH: Nikol Dimitrova ...... nick-COAL dim-ah-TROV-ah Aviram Salomon (1st year/UNLV, 2006) Elena Gantcheva ...... ah-LANE-ah gan-CHEVE-ah Kristina Nedeltcheva...... neh-DELT-chiv-ah Alisa Razina ...... uh-LEESE-ah rah-ZIN-ah Aviram Salomon ...... A-ver-um Linda Tempelfelde ...... TEMPLE-feld

12 season oUtlook

STOCKED LINEUP LOOKS TO LEAVE NO DOUBT Surprisingly spurned a year ago by the NCAA selection Linda Tempelfelde (21-9) was nearly perfect in MWC committee, the UNLV women's tennis team intends to make play, going 9-1 vs. league opponents overall en route to sure the program heads back to the postseason event in diMitrova ranking only behind Gantcheva in overall wins. After finally 2007. After heading the last team left out of the tournament getting into the regular starting lineup, the former NAIA transfer last spring, eighth-year UNLV head coach Kevin Cory largely dominated at the No. 6 spot as a junior, including says the unexpected turn of events will serve as motivation earning her team's only point vs. superpower Stanford. for this year's squad. "Linda really came on strong. She is a great athlete and "I thought we had done enough to get us a bid but we when she puts her mind to it, she's capable of beating ended up as the last team out,” Cory says. “That will serve anyone she plays." as motivation for us this year. We don't want to leave any The final senior is Mery Constanti (3-6), who does doubt this season and I think we'll have the team to do it." her best work in the doubles lineup. Her 10-6 mark with the Indeed. The Lady Rebels, who peaked in the rankings outgoing Treber made her a solid 31-19 all-time in doubles. at 37 in '06, lost just one player as No. 4 starter Cindy "Mery is finishing up a good college career with us. She is Treber graduated after posting a career-best 20-8 singles Although she has not left the top 25 national rankings a strong doubles player and we are looking for her to step record. A roster that last year featured a sophomore All- since June 2005, Gantcheva did not play enough tournament up and be a leader in her last season." American, a nationally ranked freshman and three matches in the fall to allow her to earn the lofty single-digit Speaking of doubles, that aspect of the game was dependable juniors now boasts one more season of rankings of a year ago. clearly the team's Achilles heal in 2006 as three key losses experience and the addition of two outstanding recruits. "Being injured, she missed out on playing a lot of top vs. highly ranked opponents all ended 4-3 after UNLV lost "Losing just one player and adding two potential starters players, but she can still be a top-25 player and get a bid to the doubles point and then split singles play. "We struggled means we have a better team overall," says Cory. "We the NCAA tournament for a third straight year. I think her best the last few years in doubles. It's always difficult getting will be much deeper this year and I believe we've set tennis is ahead of her and she's going to have some down 1-0 against top teams because it puts a lot of pressure ourselves up for another strong run at the conference outstanding victories for us in 2007." on us to win four of six singles matches." championship and a regional bid. Of course, a lot of factors Last year's No. 2, fellow Bulgarian Nikol Dimitrova Cory, however, promises that times are changing. come into play during a season. You have to keep people (16-4), joined the team in January and promptly won big "We're upgrading our doubles. Gantcheva and healthy and have some bounces go your way but we while earning her first national ranking in the final poll of the Nedeltcheva will probably be at number one but after that, have the type of team to do some damage." season. With Dimitrova sitting at No. 82 in this year's we'll experiment a little bit. This might end up as the best One thing is certain this spring: the Lady Rebels will be preseason, she and Gantcheva made up only the third doubles lineup we've ever had." playing on new, state-of-the-art courts that are part of a $2 UNLV duo in history to be ranked at the same time. million renovation project at the Fertitta Tennis Complex. "Having two players in the top 100 is a significant THE SCHEDULE "The new courts are amazing," says Cory. "The facility achievement for our program and shows that UNLV tennis No less than has always been great but the new courts give us one the is getting a lot of respect nationally," says Cory. "Nikol had 12 of the 22 teams top stadiums in the nation. Everyone who has seen them a great year and was ranked by the end of her first semester on the UNLV has raved." on campus but I think has yet to fully tap into her potential. I women's tennis expect her to make a run at getting to the NCAA tournament." 2007 schedule THE LINEUP The third Bulgarian is freshman Kristina Nedeltcheva, were ranked at the Call them The Bulgarian Bunch -- three outstanding who has already done enough in just one fall tournament end of last season, women's tennis players in different years from each other season to earn an ITA West Region ranking of 18. including defending all hailing from Sofia, Bulgaria, and all suiting up for UNLV. "Kristina has been a real pleasant addition to our team NCAA champion One of the elite players in college tennis, Elena and I expect her to play in the top half of our lineup," says Stanford. "Once Gantcheva (33-9 in singles 2005-06) returns for a third Cory. "She has a huge game, a big forehand and serve. again we have a year atop the lineup and, despite missing most of the fall She's an all-court player who is going to be a tremendous very challenging season because of a wrist injury, looks to return to her top- help in both singles and doubles." schedule," Cory 10 form. The defending Mountain West Conference Player The team's other newcomer is Alisa Razina, who says. "We are of the Year earned a preseason ranking of 13 and looks joined the program in January. "We're excited about Alisa willing to put it on sMith primed to become just the second woman in program history joining us this semester. She had some outstanding junior the line against top to become a two-time All-American. results and we expect her to make an impact right away and teams in the "Elena just had an amazing year,” says Cory. "Getting be one of our stronger doubles players." country year after ranked as high Returning for her junior year is Sharon Marin (14-9), year and 2007 is no different. This is the type of schedule as eighth in the who despite still suffering from a bad back, tasted her first you need to get that bid." country helped real success late in her second season, including two victories The MWC slate opens March 23 vs. Wyoming. Also her set a over ranked opponents out of the No. 3 spot in the lineup. coming to Las Vegas are Colorado State and Air Force. foundation for this "Sharon has battled injuries the last two years but turned in UNLV travels to Fort Worth to take on New Mexico and program. She an amazing spring considering she was playing at about 50 TCU and then closes out the regular-season in San Diego keeps raising percent. She played really well in conference matches (5-2 vs. Utah, BYU and SDSU. The league championships the bar for what vs. MWC) and we expect good things from her." will be held at Air Force April 25-28. we expect in The team's senior leadership comes in the bottom half of "Our conference is getting stronger and stronger. With practice every the lineup as a trio of final-year veterans combined for a 30- five teams ranked in the top 50, there are only two or three day and in 14 dual-match record a season ago. leagues out there that are better than the Mountain West." matches. She A familiar face to Lady Rebel fans, Claire Smith (18- Cory says he does not expect his team to this year Gantcheva had an injury in 11) has been a starter every year on campus and will leave be sitting home when the NCAA tournament begins in the fall but we the school firmly entrenched on the top-10 career victories May. "If we win a couple of those close matches like we expect to keep list for both singles and doubles. "Claire has been an ideal had last year, we can be a top 25-30 team. We're in a good her healthy and student-athlete. She works hard every day, contributes a lot position with eight solid players and I believe we've set have a big to the team during matches and has an outstanding GPA. ourselves up for a good run." spring." She will once again be a huge factor in our success."

13 Player ProFiles

Mery constanti SR-3L • RH • 5-7 BARCELONA, SPAIN

AT UNLV: A solid veteran who sees spot singles duty but is especially effective in the doubles lineup … Turned in 1-2 fall singles record and 1-1 doubles mark with partner Linda Tempelfelde … A top student who has earned Academic All-MWC honors all three seasons on campus ... 2006: Played primarily doubles as she and partner Cindy Treber became the winningest duo on the team with a 10-6 overall mark ... Sported an 8-3 record at the No. 3 doubles position in dual matches, including a 4-3 mark vs. MWC opponents ... Finished 3-6 overall in singles play, including 1-1 in duals at the No. 6 spot ... Turned in 2-3 fall singles record ... 2005: Did not play a singles match during dual season but posted 7-4 doubles mark with three partners ... constanti’s colleGiate record Teamed with Elena Gantcheva at No. 3 doubles for a 4-3 record SINGLES ... Helped Lady Rebels take the doubles point vs. No. 7 William Year Tour Dual MWC Total & Mary with a win on court three ... Also pitched in as UNLV downed 27th-ranked Indiana on March 17 Fall 2006 1-2 0-0 0-0 1-2 ... Her 4-3 fall record included going 2-1 at the UNLV fall invitational and then earning two qualifying wins 2005-06 2-5 1-1 0-1 3-6 to reach the Main Draw of the ITA Regional in San Diego in October ... 2004: Joined the squad in January 2004-05 4-3 0-0 0-0 4-3 2003-04 0-0 13-9 4-4 13-9 and won her first collegiate match over Christine Tilley of UNR … Settled into the No. 6 singles spot and CAREER 7-10 14-10 4-5 21-20 after losing five of her first eight matches, won 10 of her last 14 duals to end with a 13-9 overall record … Also teamed with Cindy Treber at No. 3 doubles and compiled a 14-9 mark, including a seven-match DOUBLES winning streak in March. HIGH SCHOOL: A graduate of the Colegio Leon XIII in Barcelona … Won titles Year Tour Dual MWC Total at the Catalunya Championships in singles (1999-2003) and doubles (2000-03). PERSONAL: Maria Fall 2006 1-1 0-0 0-0 1-1 2005-06 2-2 8-4 3-2 10-6 Constanti Frowein was born on June 3, 1985, in Madrid, Spain … The daughter of Arturo and Marisa 2004-05 3-1 4-3 0-1 7-4 Constanti … Has a younger brother, Arturo, and sister, Patricia … Majoring in communications … Favorite 2003-04 0-0 14-9 4-5 14-9 tennis player is Las Vegas native Andre Agassi. CAREER 6-4 26-16 7-8 32-20

nikol diMitrova SO-1L • RH • 5-6 SOFIA, BULGARIA *2006 all-MWc sinGles* AT UNLV: Arguably the top freshman in the Mountain West Conference a year ago returns for her first full season with the Lady Rebels ... Will once again be a starter in the top half of the singles lineup as well as doubles ... Ranked No. 82 nationally in the fall and stands 21st regionally heading into the spring ... A sometimes-dominant player who was pushed to a third set only three times in her 18 career victories ... Won her way into Round of 16 at ITA Regional ... Finished fall with 2-3 singles mark ... The former juniors-level doubles partner of fellow-Bulgarian and current UNLV junior Elena Gantcheva ... One of three Bulgarians on this year’s roster along with Gantcheva and newcomer Kristina Nedeltcheva ... A seasoned international competitor who was Bulgaria’s top-ranked juniors player in diMitrova’s colleGiate record both singles and doubles in 2003 ... 2006: The team’s only SINGLES newcomer joined the Lady Rebels in January, took over the Year Tour Dual MWC Total Fall 2006 2-3 0-0 0-0 2-3 No. 2 spot in the lineup and promptly won her first four collegiate matches ... Named First Team All-MWC 2005-06 0-0 16-4 7-2 16-4 in singles ... Earned her first ITA national ranking in the final release of the season, coming in at No. 115 ... CAREER 2-3 16-4 7-2 18-7 Finished her rookie campaign with a sparkling 16-4 record -- all in duals ... Three of her four losses came to opponents ranked in the nation’s top 35 ... Went 6-2 in MWC action, not including another victory at the DOUBLES conference tourney ... Also played No. 1 doubles with Gantcheva (9-5) and No. 2 doubles with Claire Year Tour Dual MWC Total Fall 2006 1-0 0-0 0-0 1-0 Smith (3-2). HIGH SCHOOL: A graduate of General Stoychev Sports School. PERSONAL: Nikol 2005-06 0-0 12-7 4-4 12-7 Dimitrova was born on June 18, 1987 ... Favorite tennis player is Pete Sampras ... Majoring in liberal arts. CAREER 1-0 12-7 4-4 13-7

14 Player ProFiles elena Gantcheva JR-2L • RH • 5-8 SOFIA, BULGARIA

*2006 all-aMerica* *2006 ncaa sinGles ParticiPant* *2006 MWc Player oF the year* *2006 ita reGional Player to Watch*

AT UNLV: One of the elite players in all of college tennis after just two seasons ... The third All-American and fourth conference MVP in Lady Rebel history … Finished sophomore season already ranked 9th in all-time wins at the school with 64 ... Needs just 14 more wins to move into the top five and 18 victories this spring will push her into third place on the program’s career list with 82 ... Finished her second season with a career winning percentage of .790, which ranks second at UNLV … The second-ever Lady Rebel -- along with Marianne Vallin -- to earn a top-10 ranking after sitting at a career-high No. 8 in January 2006 ... Also ranked No. 13 to open this past fall but a wrist injury limited her to only one tournament, which means she will not be ranked nationally to start the spring ... With her wrist hurting, she went 0-2 at All-American Championships and did not compete again ... Expected to be 100 percent in time for dual matches ... Despite pair of fall defeats to top-10 players, Gantcheva heads into spring an impressive 30- 15 all-time vs. ranked opponents ... Solidified her impressive credentials last spring when, after earning a wild-card entry into Las Vegas’ WTF Mirage Cup professional tournament, she shocked the field by defeating Jill Craybas -- the 52nd-ranked player in the world -- 6-2, 7-6 -- at the Darling Tennis Center on March 1 ... Later lost to Angela Haynes in the Round of 16 ... 2006: Became the second Lady Rebel to ever finish a season in the nation’s top 20 with a No. 17 ranking ... Rolled to a 33-9 overall record, which tied for the fourth- most single-season wins ... Named all-conference in singles for second straight year and the Mountain West Conference Player of the Year after sweeping eight league opponents ... Won 11 straight matches and an incredible 18 straight sets to end her dual-match season ... Faced 25 ranked opponents and defeated 18 of them, including going 5-0 vs. ranked MWC competition ... Twice downed BYU’s Olga Boulytcheva, who was ranked 18th and then 24th during their spring meetings ... Played in the NCAA singles championship for the first time and was the second UNLV woman ever to earn a seed ... Despite being seeded, she drew 18th-ranked Lindsey Nelson of USC in the first round and the Trojans’ star won 6-2, 6-4 ... Earned a preseason fall ranking of 24 and proceeded to go on a tourney run that was only rivaled by her freshman effort ... Went 15-4 and won two titles ... Opened autumn by winning UNLV Fall Invite in September ... Went 6-2 at Riviera All-American Classic in October to win the prestigious event’s consolation bracket, including downing four top-25 players in three days ... Upset No. 6 Shadisha Robinson of Georgia 6-3, 6-2 in the semifinals and then shocked the nation’s top-ranked player, Jennifer Magley of Florida, 6-0, 7-5, on Oct. 9 for the consolation crown and became the first woman in school history to defeat a No. 1 opponent ... Later that month, became the first Lady Rebel in history to reach the finals of the ITA Regional before losing to USC’s Amanda Fink in the championship ... Became second UNLV woman and first since 1994 to earn a spot in prestigious ITA National Indoors tourney in Columbus, Ohio, and won her first-round match before falling in the Round of 16 to No. 4 Robin Stephenson of Alabama ... 2005: After turning in what was at the time the best fall season in program history with a 14-1 record, went from unranked to No. 21 heading into spring play, which was the highest for a UNLV women’s player since former All-American Katarina Malec finished 18th in 2000 ... Named the MWC Freshman of the Year along with earning all-league kudos in singles and doubles ... Finished ranked 42nd after compiling a 15-6 record in dual matches for a 31-8 overall mark, which tied for sixth-most wins in a season by a Lady Rebel ... Thrice won at top of lineup to help her team down a ranked opponent at home during spring (vs. Lucia Tallo of No. 21 Fresno State, Yulia Rivelis of No. 57 Penn and Dora Vastag of No. 27 Indiana) ... Teamed with Sharon Marin to forge an 8-6 doubles mark at the top spot ... Duo upset eighth-ranked team from New Mexico during semifinals of MWC championship tourney on April 29 ... Became first Lady Rebel since 2001 to earn an at-large bid to NCAA Singles Championship but had to withdraw because of a wrist injury ... Began collegiate career by winning top flight of Gantcheva with top pro player Lleyton UNLV Fall Invitational … Then won both pre-qualifying and qualifying rounds at Riviera Hewitt at a Tennis Channel Open event All-American Classic … Defeated five ranked players in four days at the event, including 32nd-ranked Sarah Foster of Kentucky and No. 29 Daniela Muscolina of Tulsa … Withdrew because of exhaustion in the Gantcheva’s colleGiate record Round of 16 … Followed that up with a 5-1 effort in late October at the ITA SINGLES Year Tour Dual MWC Total West Regional in San Diego … Upset No. 10 Daniela Bercik of UCLA Fall 2006 0-2 0-0 0-0 0-2 in quarterfinals before losing her first match as a collegian to Lindsey 2005-06 16-6 17-3 10-1 33-9 Nelson of USC in semifinals. HIGH SCHOOL: A 2004 graduate of 2004-05 16-2 15-6 6-3 31-8 General Stoychev Sports School … A past ITF 18-and-under European CAREER 32-10 32-9 16-4 64-19 Indoor Championship runner-up … A national champion in 10-and-under, 12-and-under and 16-and-under divisions. PERSONAL: Elena A. DOUBLES Gantcheva was born on June 30, 1985, in Sofia, Bulgaria … The Year Tour Dual MWC Total daughter of Angel and Maria Gantcheva … Has one brother, Martin (18), Fall 2006 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 who is also a tennis player … Chose University College for her studies 2005-06 4-3 11-9 3-7 15-12 … Lists Las Vegas native Andre Agassi as her favorite tennis player. 2004-05 2-2 12-9 5-4 14-11 CAREER 6-5 23-18 8-11 29-23 15 Player ProFiles sharon Marin JR-2L • RH • 5-5 JERUSALEM, ISRAEL

AT UNLV: A talented junior who showed flashes of her great potential last spring ... Sat out the fall tournament season to heal her back ... Will look to once again earn a spot in the top half of the singles lineup ... A top student who has twice earned Academic All-MWC honors as well as being named an ITA Scholar-Athlete ... Continues a long line of Israeli players at UNLV but is the first woman from that country to join the program since Sarit Shalev in 1991 ... 2006: Turned in a successful spring campaign, going 12-6 a the No. 3 singles position ... Played her best tennis late in the season, winning five of her final six matches, including a 5-2 mark in MWC regular-season play ... Posted her first two career ranked victories: shocked No. 83 Lucia Sainz of Fresno State 7-6, 6- Marin’s colleGiate record SINGLES 3 on Feb. 26 and then downed another 83rd-ranked opponent -- TCU’s Anna Sydorska -- 6-3, 6-7, 1-0 Year Tour Dual MWC Total (11-9) on April 14 ... Her 2-3 fall record included a trip to the flight-two final of the UNLV Invitational ... Fall 2006 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 Combined with Elena Gantcheva for a 2-4 record at No. 1 doubles and with Claire Smith at No. 2 for a 7- 2005-06 2-3 12-6 5-3 14-9 6 mark ... Teamed with Gantcheva for a 4-3 fall doubles mark ... 2005: Her 6-15 overall rookie record 2004-05 2-4 4-11 3-6 6-15 included a 4-11 mark at Nos. 3-4 ... Rallied late in season and won three of four at one point during CAREER 4-7 16-17 8-9 20-24 conference play ... Turned in a 2-2 fall tournament effort ... Earned all-conference honors in doubles after DOUBLES 10-8 mark with partner Gantcheva, including 8-6 at top spot in lineup ... Highlight came in the semifinals of Year Tour Dual MWC Total MWC tournament as she and Gantcheva upset the nation’s eighth-ranked duo of Maja Kovacek and Iva Fall 2006 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 Gersic of New Mexico. HIGH SCHOOL: A graduate of Hasharon High School in Tel Aviv … Ranked as 2005-06 4-3 9-10 2-5 13-13 high as No. 830 in the world by the WTA. PERSONAL: Sharon Marin was born on June 28, 1984, in 2004-05 2-2 8-6 5-3 10-8 CAREER 6-5 17-16 7-8 23-21 Jerusalem, Israel … The daughter of Roberto and Bruria Marin … Has one brother, Daniel (23) … Majoring in international business … Lists Las Vegan Andre Agassi as her favorite tennis player. kristina nedeltcheva FR-HS • RH • 5-7 SOFIA, BULGARIA

AT UNLV: A top recruit who will be expected to make an immediate impact in the starting lineup of both singles and doubles this spring ... Already ranked No. 18 in the West Region heading into season ... Joins fellow Sofia, Bulgaria, natives Elena Gantcheva and Nikol Dimitrova in the program ... Played in two fall tournaments, compiling a 2-3 singles mark ... Won twice at the ITA Regional in San Diego before falling in the Round of 16 to 22nd-ranked Bianca Dulgheru of Pepperdine 6-2, 3-6, 6-0 ... Also teamed with Claire Smith for a run to the Round of 16 at the ITA regional before settling for a 2-1 fall doubles mark ... HIGH SCHOOL: A graduate of General Vladimir Stoychev Sports School ... A national juniors champion in the 18-and-under division. PERSONAL: Kristina Nedeltcheva was born on Sept. 30, 1986, in Bulgaria ... The daughter of Maria Gantcheva and Nikolay Nedeltchev ... Lists Magdalena Maleeva and Roger Federer among her favorite tennis players ... Interested in majoring in hotel management. alisa raZina FR-HS • RH • 5-6 RIGA, LATVIA

AT UNLV: The only player to join the squad in January is another top recruit who will be expected to contribute immediately this spring ... Hails from the same hometown as Lady Rebel senior Linda Tempelfelde. HIGH SCHOOL: A graduate of Riga Tech Gymnasium ... Twice played in the junior European Championships: 2003 in Vichy, France, and 2005 in Athens, Greece ... Was the national runner-up in doubles in 2005. PERSONAL: Alisa Razina was born on March 1, 1989, in Latvia ... The daughter of Oleg and Jelena Razina ... Has an older brother, Maksim ... Lists favorite tennis players as Martina Hingis and Roger Federer ... Interested in studying business at UNLV.

16 Player ProFiles

claire sMith SR-3L • RH • 5-7 YARM, ENGLAND

AT UNLV: A veteran, senior leader who will hit anywhere from 4-6 in the singles lineup again this spring ... The former All-MWC doubles player finished her junior season ranked eighth in career doubles victories at the school with 48 ... Will move into the top five on the list this spring when she reaches 56 all-time wins ... Turned in the best fall on the team with a 5-2 effort at the ITA Regional in San Diego ... She rolled through the event’s consolation bracket before being eliminated in the semifinals ... Previously helped the Lady Rebels make their return to the national doubles rankings as she and then-partner Gyorgyi Zsiros entered the list at No. 55 on March 22, 2005 ... Marked the first appearance by a UNLV women's duo since Aga Abram and Marianne Bakken were 37th in 2001 ... A three-time Academic All-MWC honoree and two-time ITA Scholar-Athlete ... 2006: Continued her consistent success with a 13-8 dual-match record at the Nos. 4-5 spots as part of an 18-11 overall singles season ... sMith’s colleGiate record Combined with three partners for an 11-11 overall doubles record, including 7-6 at the No. 2 spot with Sharon Marin ... Her SINGLES 5-3 fall singles mark included three victories at ITA Regional in San Diego ... 2005: Turned in another shining performance Year Tour Dual MWC Total Fall 2006 5-2 0-0 0-0 5-2 in spring season ... Finished 14-6 in dual matches, including 5-2 when moving up to No. 5 spot ... Went 5-1 in regular- 2005-06 5-3 13-8 7-4 18-11 season MWC play ... Clinched UNLV’s semifinal victory over No. 48 New Mexico with 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 win over Tiffany 2004-05 3-5 14-6 6-2 17-11 Robertson on April 29 ... Once again teamed with Zsiros in doubles and pair posted a 16-5 doubles mark, including 11-1 2003-04 6-6 15-7 6-3 21-13 on third court ... Upset two ranked opponents: SDSU’s No. 40 Hauerlandova and Erichsen in the ITA Regional and then CAREER 19-16 42-21 19-9 61-37 No. 30 Muth and Wei of William & Mary on March 12 ... Duo won six of its last seven matches, including in NCAA Regional vs. Texas A&M ... 2004: Played at No. 5 singles and went 15-7 in duals as part of a 21-13 overall record … DOUBLES Spring included a six-match winning streak as she won nine of 11 at one point … Led team in doubles victories with a 19- Year Tour Dual MWC Total 12 record that included a shining 17-6 mark at the No. 2 spot with partner Zsiros … Pair boasted an 8-1 record vs. MWC Fall 2006 2-1 0-0 0-0 2-1 foes en route to all-conference honors. HIGH SCHOOL: A graduate of the Stokesley School in North Yorkshire, England 2005-06 1-2 10-9 3-2 11-11 … Member of home country’s national club team … A former runner-up finisher in junior nationals … Also competed in cross 2004-05 2-4 16-5 6-3 18-9 2003-04 2-6 17-6 8-1 19-12 country and netball, which is a version of women’s basketball. PERSONAL: Claire E. Smith was born on March 4, 1985, CAREER 7-13 43-20 17-6 50-33 in North Yorkshire, England … The daughter of Nigel and Helen Smith … Has an older brother, Mark … Majoring in kinesiological sciences … Favorite tennis player is Andre Agassi. linda teMPelFelde SR-2L • RH • 5-7 teMPelFelde’s colleGiate record SINGLES RIGA, LATVIA Year Tour Dual MWC Total Fall 2006 2-1 0-0 0-0 2-1 AT UNLV: A former top transfer 2005-06 5-4 16-5 9-1 21-9 who became a key performer last 2004-05 1-1 5-3 1-0 6-4 spring and looks to return to the 2003-04* N/A N/A N/A 18-2* starting lineup as a senior ... One CAREER 8-6 21-8 10-1 47-16 of two Lady Rebels from Riga, Latvia, along with rookie Alisa DOUBLES Razina ... 2006: Finished Year Tour Dual MWC Total second on the team in victories Fall 2006 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 2005-06 1-2 4-4 0-0 5-6 with a 21-9 overall record ... 2004-05 1-1 10-12 4-6 11-13 Posted 16-5 record in dual matches at Nos. 5-6 spots ... Dominated in 2003-04* N/A N/A N/A 10-3* MWC play with a 7-1 record, which does not include two more wins CAREER 2-3 14-16 4-6 26-22 during league tourney ... Her only MWC loss was a close super- *At NAIA Oklahoma Chrisitan tiebreaker vs. TCU ... Won 10 of her last 11 matches overall ... Teamed with Cindy Treber for a 4-3 dual-match record at No. 3 doubles ... Was 5-6 in doubles overall as a junior ... 2005: The only player to join the team in January ... Competed at No. 6 position and turned in a 5-3 debut mark in dual matches ... Scored team’s only point in match vs. top-ranked Stanford by downing Joanna Kao 7-6, 6-4 on March 23 ... Teamed with Anne Claire Ortiz-Luis in doubles for an 11-13 overall mark, which included 10-12 in duals at all three doubles spots. AT OKLAHOMA CHRISTIAN: Played the 2003-04 season at the NAIA university located in Oklahoma City … Named the ITA National Rookie of the Year for her level … Earned first team All-America honors from both the NAIA and ITA … Ranked as high as 15 in singles and seven in doubles during her freshman season while compiling an 18-2 overall singles record and 10-3 doubles mark at the top position … Led the Lady Eagles to a Region VI Championship. HIGH SCHOOL: A 2003 graduate of Agenskalna Gymnasium in Riga, Latvia … Represented her home country in the 2003 European Club Team Championships in Rennes, France … The 2003 Latvian mixed doubles champion … Also national runner-up in doubles in 2004 … Ranked in the top 10 in Latvia as a singles player. PERSONAL: Linda Tempelfelde was born on Aug. 3, 1985, in Riga, Latvia … The daughter of Romans and Helena Tempelfelde … Has one older brother, Robert … Majoring in international business with a minor in Spanish … Lists Russian star Marat Safin and Serena Williams as her favorite tennis players.

17