Aug. 20, 2006
LAS VEGAS - The UNLV Rebels defeated the alumni 3-0 (30-15, 30-24, 30-24) on Saturday evening in the practice gym of the Cox Pavilion. Although the match was completed after the three-game victory by the 2006 squad, the teams chose to play two more sets. The alumni won game four 32-30 and the fifth 15-9.
The Rebels out hit their cohorts .240 to .184 in the match and recorded 70 kills to 51. UNLV hit a staggering .581 (22 kills - 4 errors -31 total attempts) in the first game, only to watch its next highest percentage reach .286 in the fifth. The alumni hit no higher than .185 in its three losses, but rose to the occasion with a .211 in game four and .533 (8-0-15).
Sophomore Melody Nua's double-double helped her squad to victory with 47 assists and 11 digs. On the attacking side of the ball, Nua hit for a .250 average, while racking up five kills.
Junior Maria Aladjova hit for the highest percentage in the match with a .520 (16-3-25) and was followed by sophomore Erin Greenwood's .400. Senior Michelle Banks came close to matching Nua's feat, but fell two kills (eight) and one dig (nine) short of picking up a double-double. Junior Brittani Lumsden nailed six aces in the match and followed it up with 12 kills and six digs.
The alumni were led by Nicki King's (2001-04) double-double of 34 assists and 10 digs. King also chipped in with six kills and a .308 hitting percentage. Leiana Oswald (2000-03) led the squad with 15 kills and a .444 percentage. Shannon Chase (1999-2002) collected nine kills, three assists and six digs.
Besides King, Oswald and Chase, the alumni team was comprised of Patricia Assuncao (2000-03), Tera Mayes (2002), Tarin Keith (2002-04), Maria Julia Goes (1999-2001), Nina Franchini (2001-04).
The Rebels open up their 2006 campaign next weekend in the UNLV Classic (Aug. 25-26) at the Cox Pavilion. Friday's action begins with Oregon State vs. Oral Roberts at 4:30 pm and by Cal Poly vs. UNLV at 7 pm. There are four games on the slate for Saturday with Cal Poly and Oregon State kicking off action at 10 am. UNLV will play Oral Roberts at noon and follow that up with its second match at 7 pm versus Oregon State. Prior to the UNLV-OSU match will be a 4:30 pm contest between Oral Roberts and Cal Poly.
