UNM MEN'S TENNIS
Lobos have high hopes newcomers can help them regain title form
Coach Rob Bareford brings in 5 to chase another Mountain West championship
Five players from five different backgrounds will arrive in Albuquerque this fall with one shared objective: helping return New Mexico men鈥檚 tennis to the top of the Mountain West.
After a season derailed by injuries and an early conference tournament exit, third-year coach Rob Bareford believes the program鈥檚 newest recruiting class has the talent, experience and mentality to compete for another conference championship.
The class features three freshmen and two experienced transfers from three continents. Joining the Lobos are Nikhil Srivatsa of Monte Sereno, California; Andrew Lavine, a transfer from UC Riverside and native of Bellaire, Texas; Juan Jose Neira Rodriguez of Bogot谩, Colombia; David Schwarc of Trnava, Slovakia; and Max Relic, a transfer from Utah, who previously played No. 1 singles under Bareford at Montana State.
ranked the class 13th among the nation鈥檚 mid-major recruiting classes.
The additions come at an important point for the program.
Bareford鈥檚 first season in Albuquerque produced immediate results. UNM finished 16-9, captured the Mountain West tournament championship and reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2015, earning Bareford Southwest Region Coach of the Year honors.
Last season was a much different story. Injuries hampered the roster throughout the spring and the Lobos struggled to an 8-16 mark before falling to Boise State in the conference tournament quarterfinals.
Now, Bareford believes this recruiting class can help the program return to championship form.
鈥淲e鈥檙e really excited about these five coming in,鈥� Bareford said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e all bringing kind of different things to the table. It鈥檚 good to have some young blood in there and then our two transfers.鈥�
Bareford said the class works because each newcomer brings something different.
鈥淚 love it when it鈥檚 very balanced and spread out like that,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 look for players that are bringing unique things to the table, not just playing styles, but also just as people coming from different places and having different playing styles and different views.
鈥淲e鈥檝e got some leaders coming back. They can definitely teach the new guys the ropes, what to do and what鈥檚 coming.鈥�
The newcomers also offer a balance of young talent and experienced transfers. Relic has the previous experience with Bareford, while Lavine developed into UC Riverside鈥檚 top singles player after opening the season near the bottom of the lineup.
鈥淗is story is a bit unique,鈥� Bareford said of Lavine. 鈥淗e started at six or seven ... by the end of the spring, he was playing No. 1.鈥�
The philosophy is reflected throughout Bareford鈥檚 recruiting approach. He values experience and talent, but just as importantly, he looks for players willing to compete year-round and embrace the demands of college tennis.
鈥淲e want players who play a ton of tennis,鈥� Bareford said. 鈥淲e want guys that aren鈥檛 going to be afraid to play that additional match at a tournament or fly to California, Texas, to squeeze in (Pro Tennis Tour) matches. That鈥檚 the type of guys we鈥檙e looking for. You鈥檝e got to be very hungry and passionate about tennis. We look to build off that.鈥�
That mentality is summed up by a phrase hanging inside UNM's locker room:
Do More. Expect More.
Srivatsa arrives as a four-star recruit who has competed in multiple USTA national championships.
Lavine鈥檚 climb at UC Riverside coincided with earning Big West Commissioner鈥檚 Honor Roll recognition.
Neira brings extensive international experience after competing on the ITF junior circuit and ranking among Colombia鈥檚 top under-18 players.
Schwarc adds another international presence after developing in Slovakia鈥檚 junior ranks. He secured titles at the Slovak National Championship in 2019 and also won the National title in doubles. Additionally, he鈥檚 competed for the Slovak national team five times.
Relic returns to Bareford after earning All-Big Sky honors at Montana State before competing at Utah.
But talent isn鈥檛 the only adjustment awaiting the newcomers.
They鈥檒l also have to adapt to college tennis itself 鈥� faster matches, louder crowds, different balls and the challenges of New Mexico鈥檚 altitude.
鈥淚t usually takes them about a week (to adjust),鈥� Bareford said. 鈥淲e might be in California at sea level one day and then three days later we鈥檙e somewhere else at altitude, so it鈥檚 always kind of a struggle to adjust.鈥�
UNM is hoping that adjustment pays off.
After two seasons that showcased both the program鈥檚 ceiling and its challenges, Bareford believes this class gives the Lobos another opportunity to compete for a Mountain West championship.
鈥淲e鈥檝e got that target on our back as a team to beat, winning (the conference title) in 2025,鈥� Bareford said. 鈥淚鈥檇 much rather be in this position than others, and we鈥檝e just got to go out and prove it to them.鈥�
