Nov. 29, 2008
Final Stats
LAS VEGAS - The UNLV Rebels (16-14) closed out its 2008 regular season with a 3-0 loss to the 14th-ranked Florida Gators (25-3) on Saturday night in the Cox Pavilion. The Rebels lost the match with set scores of 18-25, 23-25, 21-25.
The Gators out-hit the Rebels by a .230-to-.129 margin and threw down 15 more kills (49-to-34) in the match. Florida hit within the .200s in all three sets, while topping out at .273 in the second. UNLV, on the other hand, had its best outing in the second with a .265, while the first (.083) and third (.071) were below .100.
UNLV was led offensively by Sara Nehf's 10 kills. This was the fourth straight match that Nehf led the team in kills and fifth of the season.
Melody Nua closes out her career with another 20-assist effort. Nua racked up double-digits in 119 of 120 career matches. Nua leaves UNLV sitting first in all-time matches (120), sets (442) and assists (4,797).
Camille Cunningham topped all defensive players with her 23 digs, which gives her 29 double-digit matches on the year and 12 with 20 or more. Cunningham finishes out her career at UNLV with 1,280 career digs, which is good enough for second-place all-time. She moved up to seventh in all-time matches played (112) and ninth in sets played (379).
Gerryn Moran, the third senior on the Rebel roster, racked up 18 digs in the match. This was the 10th match of the season that Moran amassed 10 or more digs.
Florida's main threat was Kelly Murphy, who racked up a triple-double with 13 kills, 17 assists and 15 digs. The kill tally led the team, while the other two figures were the second-best in those categories. Murphy's .333 hitting efficiency was the best amongst the Gators, as she only committed four errors in 27 swings.
Cindy Bathelt split the setting duties with Murphy and tied for the match-high with 20 of her own.
Elyse Cusack tallied 16 digs to top all Gator players.
With the win, Florida improved to 2-0 in the series between the two squads. This was the first meeting since the 2000 season opener that the teams played in Gainesville, Fla.
