Sept. 4, 2004

Las Vegas - For the second consecutive match UNLV beat Washington State as the Rebels swept by the Cougars for a 3-0 victory Saturday night in front of 211 fans at the Cox Pavilion in the final game of the UNLV Classic. UNLV opened Saturday's match by winning the first two games, just like the Rebels did when the two teams played Friday night. Unlike the first match Friday when WSU fought back to force a fifth game, UNLV closed out Saturday's match in three games, winning 30-23, 30-26 and 30-28. Maria Aladjova led the UNLV attack with 12 kills and a .212 hitting percentage. Joining her in double-figures in kills was Brittani Lumsden (11) and Michelle Banks (11). Freshman setter Marisa Okamoto capped a strong weekend of play with 35 assists. In the second game of Saturday's match Kristin Koochi sparked the Rebels with her strong serving. With the score knotted at 10, the sophomore came in off the bench and her serving disrupted the Cougars' offense. The Rebels reeled off four straight points with Koochi serving and went on to win the second game. Koochi finished the match with a career-high five aces. In the final game UNLV had a 19-12 lead and seemed on its way to a three game win. WSU battled back though, scoring eight of the next nine points to tie the game at 20. The Cougars took a 25-23 lead, but the Rebels didn't let this game slip away like they did Friday night, as they scored seven of the next 10 points. The run was capped by a kill from Mariana Pencheva to end the match. Kelly Rosin led the Cougars with 14 kills and Jennifer Todd added 13. Earlier in the day San Jose State defeated Washington State in five games, 30-27, 30-22, 28-30, 30-32 and 15-12 to win the UNLV Classic. The Spartans, who beat UNLV in three games Friday night, finished with a 2-0 record. UNLV took second with a 1-1 record and Washington State finished third at 0-2. San Jose State's Carrie Nash was named the tournament's MVP. Joining her on the all-tournament team were Jessie Shull and Kristina Conrad of SJSU, Maria Aladjova and Lauren Miramontes of UNLV and Jennifer Todd and Kelly Rosin of WSU. UNLV hits the road for the first time this season next week, traveling to the Cal State Northridge Tournament in Northridge, Calif. The Rebels will play Southern Methodist University, Cal State Northridge and Cornell.