By Ryan Greene · August 6, 2008 · 5:20 PM

Three UNLV men's swimming alums prepare for 2008 Beijing Olympics

Joe Bartoch, Richard Hortness and Jonas Andersson will represent two separate countries next week in Olympic action in Beijing.

Bartoch, swimming for Canada in the 100m fly, begins preliminaries on Aug. 14 (next Thursday). The semifinals will be the 15th, and the finals a day later. He's also part of the 4x100m Medley relay team, which takes the pool Aug. 15, with finals on the 17th.

Hortness, who completed his UNLV career this past spring, swims in the 50m free, with prelims on Aug. 14, semis on Aug. 15 and finals on Aug. 16. He is an alternate on Canada's 4x100m free relay team (Aug. 10-11).

Andersson, swimming for Sweden, participates in the 100m breast this Saturday, with the event running through Monday. Andersson will also swim the breast leg for Sweden's 4x100m medley relay squad (Aug. 15, 17).

UNLV men's soccer tapped third in MPSF poll

The 2008 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation preseason men's soccer coaches' poll was released Monday, with the Rebels picked to finish third in the six-team field.

The Rebels are looking up in the poll at Denver, who is predicted to land in second, and New Mexico, who tops the list with four first-place votes.

San Jose was tied in the poll with UNLV in third, while Sacramento State is fourth and Air Force sixth.

Third-year coach Mario Sanchez returns nine starters from a year ago, headlined by senior forward Lamar Neagle and sophomore forward Daniel Cruz. Cruz was the MPSF Newcomer of the Year in 2007, with four goals and four assists.

The Rebels' season opens on Aug. 30 against Jacksonville here in Las Vegas, the game being part of the UNLV Rebel Classic. MPSF play begins for UNLV on Oct. 3 at Air Force.

Cox, Wain join women's soccer staff

Head coach Katherine Mertz announced Wednesday the additions of Alan Cox and Jim Wain to the women's soccer coaching staff.

Cox replaces Brittany Oliviera, who left UNLV in the spring to pursue other opportunities. He will be an assistant, while Wain will serve as a volunteer assistant.

Cox's last post was as the age group director of FC Las Vegas (U9-U14), and was head coach of the Nevada Olympic Development program. He will continue both jobs on top of his UNLV duties. He grew up in England, and played professionally for Manstwo FC in Devon, earning MVP honors in 1999 and 2000.

Wain comes from having served as the trainer for the Lonestar Soccer Club in Austin, Texas, from 2001-08. He played collegiately for UCLA in 1985, winning a national title, and played professionally in Costa Rica, Greece and the U.S.