October 6, 1998
Thurs., Oct. 8
UNLV Rebels at Rice Owls 7:00 p.m. CT
Match at Autry Court (5,000), Houston, Texas
Sat., Oct. 10
UNLV Rebels at Tulsa Golden Hurricane 7:00 p.m. CT
Match at Mabee Gym (500), Tulsa, Okla.
The UNLV volleyball team hits the road this week for its first conference road matches of the season. The Rebels will travel to Houston, Texas, to face Rice on Thursday, Oct. 8 at Autry Court (5,000). UNLV will then move on to Tulsa, Okla., to battle Tulsa on Saturday, Oct. 10 at Mabee Gymnasium (500). Both matches begin at 7:00 p.m. central time.
THE OPPONENTS
RICE (11-5, 0-2 WAC) is in the midst of a four match losing streak and most recently lost at Wyoming and Colorado State in three games...The Owls are led by Kelly Smith who is averaging 3.57 kills per game and Nil Kalagoglu who is is averaging 3.34 digs per game...Head Coach Julio Morales is in his third season at Rice with a record of 34-48 and his ninth year overall with a career record of 90-55.
TULSA (7-5, 0-2 WAC) lost at Colorado State and Wyoming in three games last week...The Golden Hurricane is led by Kristien Van Lierop who is averaging 3.44 kills and 2.59 digs per game...Head Coach Matt Sonnichsen is in his first year as a head coach.
THE REBELS
UNLV (12-3, 1-0 WAC) has won six straight matches and most recently defeated Nevada, Reno 3-1, #24 Fresno State 3-0 and Air Force 3-0...The Rebels are led by sophomore outside hitter Justine Kamelamela who is fifth in the WAC with 4.16 kills per game...Junior Angie Sylvas leads the team in digs and is eighth in the WAC with 2.93 per game...Senior Meri-de Boyer is leads the team in assists and is second in the WAC with 14.00...The Rebels return nine players and four starters from last years squad that finished the season with an overall record of 9-18...The Rebels finished seventh in the Western Athletic Conferences Mountain Division with a mark of 2-12...Head Coach Deitre Collins is in her third season and has a career record of 26-43.
POSSIBLE REBEL STARTERS
No. Player Pos. Ht. Yr.-Exp. Hometown/Last School 1998 Statistics 9 Meri-de Boyer S 6-0 Sr.-2V Poway, Calif./UCSB 14.00 apg, 2.57 dpg, 0.85 bpg 14 Christel Eves OH/MB 5-10 Jr.-2V Henderson, Nev./Basic HS 2.78 kpg, 1.72 dpg, 0.93 bpg 7 Danielle Gerlach OH/MB 6-0 Jr.-2V Edwards, Calif./Desert HS 2.27 kpg, 1.43 dpg, 0.89 bpg 13 Amber Graham MB 6-0 Fr.-HS Las Vegas, Nev./Cimmaron HS 2.08 kpg, 1.00 bpg 4 Justine Kamelamela OH 6-0 So.-1V Aiea, Hawaii/Kamehameha HS 4.16 kpg, 2.65 dpg 2 Ana Ramos DS 5-4 So.-1V Honolulu, Hawaii/Kamehameha HS 2.11 dpg 15 Angie Sylvas OH 5-11 Jr.-RS (Med.) Las Vegas, Nev./San Jose State 3.91 kpg, 2.93 dpg, 0.48 sapg
UNLV BREAKS INTO NATIONAL POLL
For the first time since the program restarted in 1996, the UNLV volleyball team has received votes in the USA Today/AVCA collegiate volleyball poll. The Rebels, who have compiled a 12-3 overall record this season and a 1-0 mark in WAC play, are four spots out of the Oct. 5 top 25 after receiving 12 votes this week.
LAST YEAR
The 1997 UNLV volleyball team opened the season with a best-ever start of 7-1...After suffering some critical injuries the team struggled and finished with an overall record of 9-18 and seventh in the WACs Mountain Divison with a 2-14 mark, failing to make the conference tournament.
IN ONLY ITS THIRD YEAR This is UNLVs third season with volleyball since the program was restarted in 1996 after 11 years off.
REBELS DEFEAT NEVADA, RENO Rebels exceed last years win total and off to best-ever start. LAS VEGAS (9/28)Led by junior middle blocker Christel Eves career-high 17 kills, the UNLV volleyball team defeated Nevada, Reno 15-11, 11-15, 15-2, 16-14 in a non-conference match Monday at Lied Gymnasium. The Rebels, who won their 10th game of the season in only their 13th try, have exceeded last seasons win total when they went 9-18. UNLV also is off to its best start in school history.
UNLV (10-3) was assisted in the win by junior outside hitter Angie Sylvas 17 kills. Sophomore outside hitter Justine Kamelamela recorded a double-double of 16 kills and 12 digs. Senior setter Meri-de Boyer led the Rebels with a match-high 63 assists. Nevada, Reno (10-2) was led by senior middle blocker Elena Bermans team-high 16 kills. The Rebels out-hit the Wolf Pack .244 to .205 and recorded 73 kills to UNRs 58.
REBELS DEFEAT NO. 24 FRESNO STATE Rebels get first win over top-25 opponent since restart in 1996. LAS VEGASLed by junior outside hitter Angie Sylvas match-high 14 kills, the UNLV volleyball team defeated 24th-ranked Fresno State 15-11, 15-7, 15-9 in a non-conference match Thursday at Lied Gymnasium.
The victory marks the first for UNLV over a ranked opponent since the program restarted in 1996. Also, prior to this match, the Rebels had never won more than one game in a match against a ranked team. UNLV (11-3) was assisted in the win by sophomore middle blocker Christel Eves 13 kills and career-high tying five service aces. Eves recorded only three errors on 22 attempts for a hitting percentage of .455. Senior setter Meri-de Boyer also had an outstanding performance recording 38 assists, 10 digs and six total blocks.
Fresno State (12-1), who came in undefeated, was led by senior outside hitter Shanus Bennett and sophomore outside hitter Akkelien Altena who both had eight kills. Altena added a team-high 10 digs. The Rebels out-hit the Bulldogs .260 to .101 and recorded 19 more kills than Fresno State (54-35).
REBELS WIN SIXTH-STRAIGHT MATCH Rebels improve to 12-3 with conference-opening victory over Air Force. LAS VEGASLed by junior outside hitter Angie Sylvas match-high 12 kills, the UNLV volleyball team defeated Air Force 15-3, 15-6, 15-7 in both teams Western Athletic Conference opener Saturday at Lied Gymnasium. The victory was the sixth-in-a-row for the Rebels.
UNLV (12-3, 1-0 WAC) was assisted in the win by junior middle blocker Christel Eves eight kills. Junior middle blocker Danielle Gerlach led the team in digs with 10, while senior setter Meri-de Boyer recorded a match-high 25 assists. Air Force (7-6, 0-1 WAC), was led by junior outside hitter Brooke Efflands six kills. Sophomore middle blocker Shaylor Billings led the team with nine digs. The Rebels out-hit the Falcons .315 to minus-.051 and recorded 27 more kills (44-17) and 12 more digs (38-26) than Air Force.
NEXT WEEK UNLV will be home next week as it hosts SMU on Thursday, Oct. 15 and TCU on Saturday, Oct. 17. Both WAC matches will begin at 7:00 p.m. at Lied Gymnasium.
REBELS EXCEED LAST YEARS WIN TOTAL With its win over Nevada, Reno, UNLV won its 10th match of the season in only its 13th try...Last season the Rebels won nine matches total, while losing 18.
UNLV OFF TO BEST START EVER With its 12-3 start, the Rebels are off to their best start in school history.
REBELS ONE WIN SHY OF RECORD FOR CONSECUTIVE WINS UNLV has won six matches in a row, which is one shy of the school record of seven in 1984.
SERIES HISTORY UNLV has never faced Rice in volleyball...UNLV leads the all-time series with Tulsa 2-0.
THE LAST TIME In their last meeting, the Rebels defeated the Golden Hurricane 15-4, 7-15, 15-13, 15-6 on Nov. 2, 1996 in Las Vegas.
HEAD COACH DEITRE COLLINS Head Coach Deitre Collins (Hawaii, 95) is in her third season at UNLV. A former member of the U.S. National Team and a three-time NCAA All-American middle blocker at Hawaii, Collins, led her first Rebel team to a 1996 WAC Tournament berth and this past summer led the U.S. Junior National Team to a gold medal performance at the NORCECA Zonal Championships, qualifying the team for the junior world championships in 1999. Before being named head coach of the 15th intercollegiate athletics program at UNLV on July 10, 1995, she served as an assistant at the University of South Alabama for one season (1994).
Prior to that, she was an assistant at Houston (1993) and Northern Arizona (1993-94). The fourth coach in the history of Rebel volleyball, Collins is the only volleyball player ever to be named the Broderick Cup recipient, earning the award as the best collegiate athlete in 1983. She also is a two-time Broderick Award honoree, being named the best collegiate volleyball player in 1983 and 1984. In 1982 and 1983, she led the Rainbow Wahine to consecutive NCAA Championships as well as a record of 110-5 in her final three seasons. Her career head coaching record is 26-43.
ASSISTANT COACH KEVIN HAMBLY Kevin Hambly (BYU, 98) is in his second year as assistant coach at UNLV. He is a former Brigham Young standout volleyball player, playing for the Cougars from 1992-95. The starting middle blocker from 1993-95, Hambly was a first-team All-American in 1995. He was the head coach of Highline, a mens club team in Northridge, Calif., prior to joining the Rebel coaching staff.
ASSISTANT COACH KEE WILLIAMS Kee Williams (Hawaii 95) was named to the UNLV coaching staff this past summer. Williams, in her first year, came to UNLV from the U.S. National Team where she was training before suffering a career-ending injury. A star at Hawaii from 1990-94, she was a first-team All-American selection and a three-time All-Big West Conference Honoree.
REBEL EARNS WAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONOR Sophomore Justine Kamelamela was named the Western Athletic Conference Volleyball Player of the Week for the Mountain Division on Sept. 28, It marks the first time this season a UNLV volleyball player has received the honor and the second time in the programs history. Kamelamela led the Rebels to a 2-0 record that week with wins against Utah State and San Diego State. Against Utah State, she had a match-high 14 kills, with only two errors on 28 attempts for a .429 hitting percentage. She also added 10 digs and four total blocks in the match. Against San Diego State, she hit .375 (15-3-32) along with five digs, one assist and one service ace.
MORE REBEL HONORS Sophomore Justine Kamelamela and junior Christel Eves were both named to the all-tournament team of the Carolina Classic in Chapel Hill, N.C....Kamelamela was named to the all-tournament team of the Official All-Star Cafe/UNLV Volleyball Classic in Las Vegas...Junior Angie Sylvas was named tournament MVP of the Nanook Classic in Fairbanks, Alaska...Senior Meri-de Boyer Kamelamela were both selected to that all-tournament team.
REBEL RECORDS SET
DOUBLE-TROUBLE So far this season four Rebels have recorded double-doubles...senior Meri-de Boyer has seven in assists and digs, sophomore Justine Kamelamela has six in kills and digs, junior Angie Sylvas has five in kills and digs, and junior Christel Eves has three in kills and digs.
CAREER HIGHS SET UNLV players are putting up some impressive numbers this season and have already added to their career highs...Christel Eves had 16 kills vs. Idaho, five service aces vs. Fresno State and tied her career-high three times with 11 digs vs. New Mexico State, George Mason and San Diego State...Danielle Gerlach had 15 kills vs. SWT...Justine Kamelamela had 28 kills vs. SWT and 16 digs vs. Duke...Keala Nihipali had 19 digs vs. SWT and 10 assists vs. Air Force...Michele Peoples had 11 kills vs. SWT...Ana Ramos recorded 19 digs vs. Southwest Texas State...Angie Sylvas had 27 kills vs. SWT.
NEWCOMERS STANDOUT Freshman Nora Bernson turned in a solid performance recording 11 digs and nine kills in the victory over Iowa State and added 14 kills vs. Youngstown State and 12 kills vs. Cincinnati...Sophomore Keala Nihipali has had four games with double figures in digs including a career-high 19 digs vs. SWT...Junior Jeanette Graves was impressive vs. Duke, recording 14 kills and seven digs before recording a career-high 20 kills vs. Cincinnati...Freshman Amber Graham recorded 12 kills vs. SWT.
LEADERS OF THE WAC UNLV ranks No. 3 in the WAC in one category and No. 4 in three other categories out of six total...The Rebels are third in kills with 17.48 per game and third in digs (15.98), assists (15.28) and service aces (1.81)...Individually Meri-de Boyer, Christel Eves, Justine Kamelamela and Angie Sylvas are all among the WAC leaders...Boyer is second in assists with 14.00 per game...Eves is sixth in hitting efficiency at .353...Kamelamela is fifth in kills with 4.16 per game and 17th in digs with 2.65 per game...Sylvas is fifth in service aces with 0.48 per game, ninth in kills with 3.91 per game, and eighth in digs with 2.93 per game.
AMONG NCAA LEADERS Through matches of Sept. 27, UNLV was ninth in the nation in kills with 17.57 per game...UNLV was 19th in the nation in assists with 15.30 per game...Individually, senior setter Meri-de Boyer was sixth in the nation in assists per game at 14.09.
REBEL POWER RATING In the AVCA/Sagarin Power Ratings through Sept. 27, UNLV is 72nd in the nation...Rice is 63rd and Tulsa is 162nd...As a conference the WAC is seventh in the nation out of 32...The new ratings come out every Wednesday.
OTHER REBEL NOTES The Rebels had five players record double figures in digs vs. Duke, while three had double figures in kills...UNLV allowed Iowa State only 32 kills, the fewest allowed by the Rebels this season...UNLV had four players record double figures in digs vs. New Mexico State...The Rebels had five players record double figures in digs vs. SWT and five had double-digits in kills, two with more than 25...UNLV had four players record double-figures in kills vs. Idaho...The Rebels had three players in double figures in digs vs. North Carolina...UNLV had four players in double figures in kills and digs vs. Cincinnati...The win over #24 Fresno State was UNLVs first over a ranked opponent since the program restarted in 1996...It was also the first time UNLV has won more than one game in a match against a ranked team since the program restarted in 1996...UNLV recorded its best hitting percentage of the season vs. Air Force with .315...Air Force hit -.051 in the match, which is the lowest an opponent has hit this season vs. UNLV...Air Force recorded only 17 kills which is also the lowest for a UNLV opponent this season...UNLV is averaging over four more kills than it opponents this season, almost one and one half digs and over three assists.
