Nov. 23, 2007
Final Stats
LAS VEGAS - The second-seeded UNLV Rebels staved off elimination in the semifinals of the 2007 Mountain West Conference Volleyball Championship with a 3-2 come-from-behind win over the third-seeded BYU Cougars (21-7) Friday afternoon. With the 33-35, 30-22, 29-31, 30-24, 16-14 win, UNLV (23-5) advances to Saturday night's (8:00 pm PST) MWC Championship match against the winner of Friday's second semifinal between the fifth-seeded Utah Utes vs. the top-seeded and 20th ranked Colorado State Rams.
UNLV has never played in a conference championship match in the history of the volleyball program. The Rebels have reached the semifinals the past four seasons, but were 0-3 before today's victory.
The 3-2 win gives UNLV its school-record tying 23 win. The team had previously topped out at 23 wins in 1984 and 1998.
Although UNLV won the five-game match, BYU out-hit the Rebels by a .259 to .246 margin. The team with the highest hitting percentage won each game. UNLV swung its best when needed, as they smashed a .348 in game four to tie the match and .212 in the decisive fifth game. The Rebels smacked a .280 in their second frame win. BYU hit nearly .300 in three games, as they won game one with a .292 and game three with a .370. The Cougar's .300 wasn't enough in game four.
UNLV's middle blockers were the key its offensive effort. Lauren Miramontes threw down a school record 34 kills, while Erin Greenwood tossed in a career-high 22. Miramontes hit .291 to Greenwood's .333.
Maria Aladjova and Jessica Walters joined Miramontes and Greenwood in the double-digit kill category with their 12 and 10, respectively. Walters led the Rebels in hitting with her .444 efficiency.
Melody Nua assisted on 67 of UNLV's 79 registered helpers.
On the defensive end, Jada Walker had a match-high 32 digs. Aladjova joined Walker in double figures, as she tallied the Rebels only double-double of the match. Brittani Lumsden and Camille Cunningham dug out 15 Cougar attacks, as well.
BYU was led by double-doubles from Chelsea Goodman, Erica Lott and Amy Schlauder. Goodman combined 26 digs and a team-high 22 kills for the feat, while Lott used her 12 kills and 21 digs. Schlauder used conjoined 12 digs and a match-high 69 assists to round out the trio.
Ashton Hanson led all attackers with her .571 hitting efficiency, as the BYU middle only misfired on two of 28 attempts. Hanson registered 18 kills in the match.
Bryn Porter and Rachel Dyer rounded out the quintet of BYU attackers with 10 or more kills. They both threw down 16.
Annie Pinegar led the Cougars in digs with 31, while being one of four with 10+ tallies in the category.
2007 MWC Volleyball Championship Notes:
1) Lauren Miramontes' 34 kills are the most-ever recorded in an MWC Tournament match.
2) Melody Nua's 67 assists are the third-most recorded in an MWC Tournament match.3) Jada Walker's 32 digs are the second-most recorded in an MWC Tournament match.
