Sept. 19, 2006
LAS VEGAS -
Weekly Release Five in PDF Format
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First Serve: After going 2-1 last week, the Rebels have its toughest tests to-date this week when they host consecutive top-25 squads in #18 Utah and #16 BYU. The Utes roll into Las Vegas sporting a 9-2 mark, while the Cougars are 10-1. Both squads defeated Colorado State and Air Force in Mountain West Conference action last weekend. UNLV, on the other hand, comes into the contest after winning seven of the team's last eight matches.
Scouting the Opponents:
#18 Utah Utes: 9-2, 2-0 MWC2005 Overall/Conference: 23-9/11-3 (3rd)
Team Leaders:Airial Salvo - Kills (146) & KPG (4.17)Sydney Anderson - Assists (282) & APG (11.75)Connie Dangerfield - Digs (144) & DPG (4.24)Emillie Toone - Blocks (78) & BPG (2.23)
~UNLV trails in the series 1-20. Last meeting - Nov. 18, 2005: Utah won 3-2.
#16 BYU Cougars: 10-1, 2-0 MWC2005 Overall/Conference: 25-4/14-2 (1st)
Team Leaders:Erica Lott - Kills (160) & KPG (4.57)Amy Schlauder - Assists (262) & APG (12.48)Chelsea Goodman/Janvier Beaumont - Digs (119) & DPG (3.61/3.50)Lindsy Hartsock - Blocks (60) & BPG (1.76)
~UNLV trails in the series 2-18. Last meeting - Nov. 25, 2005: BYU won 3-2.
UNLV At LBSU & UC Riverside Revisited: After defeating the San Diego State Aztecs last Wednesday, the Rebels headed to California for two non-conference road matches. UNLV took with them a six-match winning streak, but ultimately all good things must come to an end. UNLV lost to Long Beach State, 3-1, but rebounded for a 3-0 sweep of UC Riverside the following day.
LBSU out hit UNLV .315 to .099 and racked up 13 more kills, 64-to-50. The 49ers hit their lowest hitting percentage in their game one loss with a .156 tally. They turned it around by hitting a staggering .452, .500 and .267 in the final three games, respectively. In those final three games, they had six errors total with three in each the second and fourth games and only one in the third. The Rebels, on the other hand, only hit above .100 on two occasions, in game one (.171) and game four (.114). The second and third games were well below the .100 mark with a .054 figure in game two and .033 in the third.
The Rebels were led in kills by Maria Aladjova's 13 and Jessica Walters' 12. Melody Nua racked up 30 assists, while teammate Kristin Koochi had 13. Jada Walker was the lone Rebel to notch double-digit dig numbers with 14.
UNLV out hit UCR .202 to .156, while hitting only one more kill (42-to-41). The Rebels hit no worse than .143 in any game, with that coming in the third and .231 (game one) and .237 (game two) preceding it. The Highlanders stayed within the .100s with a .111 in game one, .150 in the second and .190 in the third.
The Rebels were paced offensively by seven kills and a .700 hitting percentage by Samantha Noland, who also racked up two blocks on the night. Maria Aladjova led the team with her eight kills, while Lauren Miramontes evened that total with a .583 hitting percentage. Melody Nua and Kristin Koochi split assisting duties as they notched 20 and 12 helpers, respectively. Jada Walker led the team in digs with eight.
