Sept. 25, 2004
Final Stats
Las Vegas - Sparked by Michelle Banks, the UNLV women's volleyball team dug out of a 0-2 hole and beat Utah Valley State 3-2 on Saturday afternoon in the Cox Pavilion.
UNLV improved to 7-4 on the season, 1-0 in the Mountain West Conference. UVS lost its second match in a row and fell to 5-6.
After losing the first two games 30-27 and 30-25, Rebel head coach Allison Keeley inserted Banks into the lineup. The move paid off as Banks responded with a double-double, knocking down a career-high 14 kills while also adding 13 digs.
It was a seemingly different Rebel team that took the court after the intermission between games two and three as they won the final three games 30-19, 30-22 and 15-10 in the clincher to extend their winning streak to a season-long three matches. UNLV has won five of its last six matches.
Maria Aladjova added a career high 28 kills, as the freshman hit .362 on the night. Another freshman, middle Mariana Pencheva, had 16 kills while hitting above .400 for the second consecutive match. Nicki King's 67 assists were two off of her career-high while also contributing 22 digs for the Rebel defense. Brittani Lumsden had 12 kills and Jada Walker added a match-high 23 digs.
Deise Borghetti led the Wolverines with 19 kills and setter Lacee Koelliker had 43 assists.
UNLV remains at home next week, hosting MWC foes No. 11 Colorado State on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. (PST) and Wyoming on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. (PST). Both matches will be held at the Cox Pavilion.
