Nov. 13, 2001
THE OPPONENT
San Diego State: On the same night UNLV defeated No. 16 BYU, San Diego State picked up a 3-2 victory over No. 15 Utah. The Utes are the only ranked team the Aztecs defeated this season.
At 15-10 overall and 9-5 in league play, the Aztecs enter the MWC Tournament as the fourth seed for the second straight year. Having taken both matches from the Rebels this season, they now hold a 10-1 overall series advantage. UNLV's last victory over San Diego State came
UNLV
Despite wrapping up the regular season with a four-game loss to Utah, the Rebels carry the momentum of a four-game victory over No. 16 BYU into the post season. The Rebels picked up their first-ever victory over the Cougars on Friday, Nov. 9. Prior to that win, UNLV had never taken more than one game in a match against the Cougars.
UNLV's game seems to be peaking at the ideal time. Patricia Assuncao has picked up a double-double in each of the last four matches, and Blair Wilkes is hitting .430 in conference match-ups.
On The Block
Freshman Sheila Ocasio-Clemente continues to lead the nation in blocks with 2.04 per game. Ocasio-Clemente is the first freshman ever to lead the MWC in a statistical category with 1.86 blocks per game in league play. Teammate Michelle Johnson ranks 25th at 1.43 per game.
Record Watch
Coming into the Mountain West Conference Championship, Blair Wilkes is hitting .380 (248-65-481) for the season. The highest single season hitting percentage in school history is held by Christel Eves who hit .358 in 1998.
With 165 blocks (13 solo, 152 assisted) on the season, freshman Sheila Ocasio-Clemente is already the single season record holder at UNLV. Lynette Richan previously held the record of 142 total blocks dating back to 1984. Ocasio-Clemente is also sixth on the career blocks list and only four blocks away from the fifth spot at 169.
Patricia Assuncao has 41 aces this season, only nine shy of the school record for service aces in a season. She tied UNLV's single match record of eight against Air Force on October 9. In a twist of irony, she also leads the team in reception errors this season with 57.
Nicki King, in her first season as the team's setter, is already fourth on the career assists list with 721.
20-KILL CLUB
Leiana Oswald is the first Rebel to pick up 20 kills on the season. She had 20 kills on 48 attempts against Gonzaga on September 7.
Patricia Assuncao dropped 23 kills on Wyoming on Oct. 27 and Blair Wilkes notched 20 kills against BYU on Nov. 9.
SEASON HONORS
Junior middle blocker Blair Wilkes was named MVP of the Gameworks/UNLV Invitational, as voted on by the participating teams head coaches. Freshman setter Nicki King was also honored with a spot on the All-Tournament Team.
Double-Double List
Patricia Assuncao - 711 kills, 11 digs vs. Tulane, Sept. 113 kills, 12 digs vs. New Orleans, Sept. 119 kills, 15 digs vs. Gonzaga, Sept. 716 kills, 12 digs vs. San Diego State, Nov. 218 kills, 14 digs vs. Nevada, Reno, Nov. 616 kills, 13 digs vs. BYU, Nov. 919 kills, 11 digs vs. Utah, Nov. 10
Nicki King - 649 assists, 12 digs vs. New Orleans, Sept. 140 assists, 14 digs vs. Western Carolina, Sept. 860 assists, 15 digs vs. Wyoming, Oct. 2758 assists, 10 digs vs. San Diego State, Nov. 251 assists, 12 digs vs. Nevada, Reno, Nov. 645 assists, 12 digs vs. Utah, Nov. 10
Leiana Oswald - 212 kills, 13 digs vs. Western Carolina, Sept. 817 kills, 13 digs vs. San Diego State, Nov. 2
Sheila Ocasio-Clemente - 212 kills, 13 blocks vs. American University, Sept. 811 kills, 11 blocks vs. New Mexico, Oct. 20
Michelle Johnson - 111 kills, 11 block assists vs. New Orleans, Sept. 1
CHAMPIONSHIPS TELEVISED For the second straight year, the Mountain West Conference has contracted with SportsWest to televise all matches of the 2001 Mountain West Conference Volleyball Championship.
This year's championship takes place in Provo, Utah, with BYU serving as host. All eight MWC members will compete in a single-elimination tournament Nov. 15-17, with the champion earning an automatic bid to the 2001 NCAA Tournament. Seedings for the MWC Volleyball Championship will be announced Sunday, Nov. 11.
Listed below is a list of clearances along with the satellite coordinates. Check local listings for match coverage.
Satellite: Galaxy C11, Transponder 20 Down link frequency 4100 Mhz, 91 degrees
Air Time
Thursday, 11:00 a.m. MST
Friday 4:00 p.m. MST
Saturday 2:00 p.m. MST
Clearances:
School Market StationAFA Colorada Springs/Denver Adelphia Cable (6)BYU/Utah Provo/Salt Lake City KSL (NBC), KBYU (11)CSU Fort Collins/Denver PendingUNLV Las Vegas Las Vegas OneUNM Albuquerque KRQE-TV (CBS)SDSU San Diego Cox Channel 4Wyoming Cheyenne KGWN (CBA)
REDSHIRTS
Transfers Jodi Hendricks, Tera Mayes and Serene Hunter have redshirted the 2001-2002 season.
INJURY UPDATE
Sarah Fachner, who redshirted last season with a knee injury, has torn the anterior cruciate ligament in her knee and will likely take a medical redshirt this season.
Maria Julia Goes has a stress fracture in her foot and has been forced to sit out the remainder of the season. Having only played 11 games this season, she has chosen to take a medical redshirt this season and finish her collegiate playing career with the Rebels in 2002.
PHOTOS
Members of the media can now download photos from the Mountain West Conference website. The photo gallery contains head shots and action photos of all MWC coaches. You can also download student-athlete mug shots and selected action photos from all 19 league sports.
COLLINS IS REBEL VB'S ALL-TIME WINNINGEST COACH
Deitre Collins is UNLV volleyball's all-time winningest coach with 64 wins. Karen Lamb, who compiled 39 wins from 1985-87, is second on the list.
REBELS ONLY, PLEASE!
Please remember, UNLV (acronym on all references please) is home to the Rebel volleyball team -- not the Runnin' Rebels! Only the men's basketball team at UNLV is named the Runnin' Rebels.
ON THE WEB
UNLV Athletics information may be found on the web at www.unlvrebels.com...Mountain West Conference info may be obtained at www.TheMWC.com.
