Cross Country
Last Year: Finished eighth at the Mountain West Conference Championships held in San Diego.
2004 Highlight: Michele Suszek led the Rebels at the West Regional held at Woodward Park in Fresno, Calif., placing 48th.
What's New This Season: The team is entering its second year under coach Pablo Sanchez.
Don't-Miss Events: Home cross country meet at 8 a.m. Oct. 8 at Floyd Lamb State Park.
Football
Last Year: Legendary head coach John Robinson retires after 2-9 finish.
2004 Highlight: Hiring of new coach Mike Sanford from Utah.
Last Year's Standouts: Las Vegas native and star defensive back Jamaal Brimmer becomes UNLV's first two-time All-American since Randall Cunningham and goes on to sign with the Seattle Seahawks. Record-breaking linebackers Adam Seward (Carolina Panthers) and Ryan Claridge (New England Patriots) are both selected in the fifth round of the NFL Draft. Two other players — punter Gary Cook (Oakland Raiders), a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award, and receiver Earvin Johnson (Tennessee Titans), a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award — sign free-agent contracts.
What's New This Season: Everything. A new attitude, new coaching staff, and new offense — the exciting shotgun spread. Even a new helmet and uniform design.
Don't-Miss Events: Sanford's former team, Utah, visits the Rebels on Oct. 22; Homecoming on Nov. 5 against BYU.
Men's Soccer
Last Year: A 6-12 season with one of the toughest schedules in the nation.
2004 Highlight: Head coach Barry Barto notched his 300th career victory against Denver on Oct. 8.
Last Year's Standouts: Midfielder Victor “Boomer" Arbelaez, an all-region selection, was UNLV's first-ever major league soccer draftee (30th pick by San Jose, traded to L.A. Chivas), while junior midfielder Rod Dyachenko led the team with six goals and two assists for 14 points.
What To Look For This Season: After graduating 10 seniors, the Rebels will have a much different look as they bring 12 newcomers to the team.
Don't-Miss Events: UNLV will host San Jose State for its Mountain Pacific Sports Federation home opener at 7 p.m. Oct. 14.
Women's Soccer
Last Year: School record-best 12-5-2 mark, won first-ever Mountain West Conference championship with a regular season 5-1 record.
2004 Highlight: Earned first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament (lost to San Diego 1-0 in two overtimes).
Last Year's Standouts: Forward Annii Magliulo, UNLV's all-time career leader in points and goals and 2004 MWC Player of the Year. Two-year starters in the backfield Blynnda Bascones and Jenny Ruiz have also both graduated, though last year's leading scorer, Katie Carney, was just a freshman.
What's New This Season: Katherine Mertz takes over as the third head coach in UNLV history and looks to improve the scoring of the Rebel offense.
Don't-Miss Events: Preseason conference favorite UNLV will host the 2005 MWC Tournament Nov. 2-5, with the NCAA automatic bid up for grabs.
Volleyball
Last Year: First winning season since 1998, finished 15-12.
2004 Highlight: Rebels (8-6 MWC) finished fourth in the Mountain West, which is the team's highest placing since the league formed.
Last Year's Standouts: Nicki King, an all-conference performer in 2004, closed out her four-year Rebel career tops in assists (4,261) and second in digs (803). Two Bulgarian students, Maria Aladjova and Mariana Pencheva, made dramatic impacts in their first season on the court for the Rebels. Aladjova was named cofreshman of the year by the MWC.
What To Look For This Season: Head coach Allison Keeley looks to keep the Rebels moving upward after her first season at the helm of the volleyball program. Keeley has several key contributors from the 2004 season returning, including Lauren Miramontes, Jada Walker, Brittani Lumsden, and Michelle Banks.
Don't-Miss Events: The Cox will play host to eight MWC matches and the MWC Tournament (Nov. 22-26).
