Nov. 8, 2008
Final Stats
LAS VEGAS - The UNLV Rebels (14-12 overall, 7-6 Mountain West) fell in four sets in the Cox Pavilion to the #24 Utah Utes (19-5, 11-2) Saturday afternoon. The Rebels managed to take a tightly contested first set, but Utah's offense proved to be too powerful, as they took the final three sets. The Rebels lost the match by set scores of 27-25, 17-25, 22-25, 19-25.
UNLV was out-hit in the match by a .162-to-.274 clip. The Utes threw down 10 more kills (62-to-52) and made seven less errors (26-to-19). The Rebels couldn't muster a hitting efficiency above their opening tally of .255, while settling between .054 (second) and .190 (third) the remainder of the match. Utah, on the other hand, hit no worse than .213 (first) and swung better than .277 (third) in the final three sets.
The Rebels were led offensively by Melody Nua's 12th double-double of the year and 39th of her career. Nua assisted on a match-high 42 assists, while tying for the team lead in digs with 16.
Cursty Jackson and Sara Nehf led UNLV offensively, as they tallied 17 and 15 kills, respectively. Jackson owned the Rebels' best hitting efficiency with a .267.
Gerryn Moran joined Nua in leading the Rebels in digs with 16 of her own. Camille Cunningham followed closely behind with 14, while Samantha Richard rounded out the double-digit quartet with 10.
The Utes got double-doubles from Stephanie Shardlow and Kathryn Haynie. Shardlow had a team-high 28 assists and joined 13 digs to achieve the feat, while Haynie used a combination of 10 kills and 10 digs.
Lori Baird was the top attacker for Utah, as she tied Jackson for the match-high in kills with 17. Baird hit at a staggering .516 clip with only one error in 31 swings. Baird wasn't only effective from the offensive standpoint, but she contributed defensively, as well. At the net, she assisted on eight blocks to lead her squad who racked up 15 total blocks (30 assisted).
Emillie Toone rounded out Utah's double-digit attackers with 12 kills of her own and pitched in seven assisted blocks.
Abby Simmons split setting duties with Shardlow and managed to assist on 24 Ute kills.
Keisha Fisher topped all Ute defenders in digs with 18.
UNLV returns to action on Thursday, Nov. 13 (6:00 pm PT), in Laramie, Wyo., vs. the Wyoming Cowgirls. The Rebels will then have two days off before competing in Fort Collins, Colo., on Sunday, Nov. 16 (noon PT).
