Nov. 4, 2000

SAN DIEGO - The UNLV volleyball team fell to San Diego State in three games (15-10, 15-12, 15-9) Saturday night. The Rebels are now 4-8 in the MWC, 4-17 overall. With the win SDSU improves to 8-4 in league play (16-11 overall) to clinch at least a number-four seed at the Mountain West Conference Tournament.

The Aztecs jumped out to a 10-3 lead in game one, but UNLV battled back to come within one at 11-10 behind the hitting of Patricia Assuncao and Leiana Oswald. The Aztecs got kills from Nicole Akporiaye and Amy Hallquist plus blocks from the same twosome to close out the game. Game two was nearly a repeat, with the Aztecs jumping out to a 9-3 lead before the Rebels answered with seven straight points. UNLV evened the score at 11-11, but again SDSU came out ahead in the end.

Game three was tight, with the Aztecs leading by a point or two much of the way, until SDSU put together a five-point run to take a 13-8 lead. The Rebels came back with two points, but a combination block by McPartland and Monet Solberg set up match point. Hallquist put the game away with her 13th kill of the night, a total which led SDSU.

UNLV's Oswald led all players with 15 kills, hitting .316 (15-3-38) for the night. Teammate Assuncao hit .368 (9-2-19) in the losing cause.

Amber Graham contributed a dozen kills and led the Rebels in two columns with nine digs and five blocks, one solo and four assisted.

SDSU's McPartland and Akporiaye also reached double-figures with 12 and 10 kills respectively. Akporiaye led the Aztecs with a .400 (10-2-20) kill percentage.