Nov. 12, 2009
LAS VEGAS - The UNLV Rebels (7-15 overall, 4-9 Mountain West) dropped a heartbreaking, 3-2 decision to the New Mexico Lobos (19-8, 10-5) Thursday night from the Cox Pavilion. The Rebels owned a 2-1 lead entering the fourth set, but watched as the Lobos rallied for wins in the fourth and fifth frames to claim the 3-2 win. UNLV lost the match by scores of 26-24, 27-29, 25-13, 26-28, 12-15. Three of the five sets had to go past the 25-point barrier and each of those featured at least 10 ties.
UNLV out-hit UNM by a .205 to .114 margin and claimed higher hitting efficiencies in three of the five sets. The Lobos only out-hit the Rebels in the decisive fifth frame (.316 to .190), while the squads tied for identical .020 tallies in the second stanza. UNLV hit over .300 in its two set victories, as they notched a .350 in the first and a .308 in the third. UNM hit below .258 in its first four sets. They even had a -.091 showing in the third. The Rebels threw down nine more kills (67 to 58) than the Lobos, while committing six fewer errors (31 to 37). UNM cranked out nine more attempts (185 to 176).
"It was a great match," noted UNLV head coach Allison Keeley. "It had good intensity, high level of play and good defense. Our outside hitters struggled a little. We had too many errors overall."
The first set witnessed 11 ties and five lead changes before it was ultimately won by UNLV. Following a 5-5 tie, the Lobos held a as much as a four-point lead until the Rebels evened things up at 17-17 on a Sara Nehf kill. The team tied things up five more times with the last coming at the 24-24 juncture. UNLV got back-to-back kills from Cursty Jackson and Nehf to claim the set.
The second set played out similar to the first, as it had 11 ties and six lead changes. After watching a four-point lead evaporated when UNLV tied things up at 14-14, UNM built up three-point cushions until a 22-22 knotting. The teams evened things up four more times before the Lobos claimed the win on their third set point.
UNLV came out of the break on fire. The Rebels never looked back after building a quick 3-0 lead en route to a 25-13 win. UNLV owned three different 10-point leads until reaching the 11-point and 12-point plateaus at the end of the set.
The third frame was close up until the 7-7 mark, as the two combatants tied things up on seven occasions. The Rebels broke open the set and maintained the lead up until the 24-24 mark. UNLV had two set points thwarted when UNM tied things up at 25-25 and 26-26. The Lobos managed to get a kill from Taylor Hadfield before an ace served up by Jade Michaelsen to end the stanza.
The fifth and final set witnessed six ties and three lead changes. The Lobos trailed up until the 7-7 mark and turned things around in their favor following an 8-8 tie. UNM won seven of the final 11 points to claim the set and match.
The Rebels were led by a Samantha Richard's sixth double-double of the season. Richard combined a match-high 48 assists, a career-high, and 12 digs to achieve the feat. She fell two kills shy of notching a triple-double, as she amassed eight kills on .400 hitting in the match.
UNLV had a trio of attackers notch double-digit outputs with Cursty Jackson leading the way with 21 kills. Jackson added six digs, six blocks (two solo), two aces and one assist, as well.
Nehf and Erin Greenwood rounded out the trio of double-digit killers. Nehf had 14 to Greenwood's 13. Nehf chipped in five digs and four blocks (three solo) to Greenwood's three blocks, one dig and one assist.
Samantha Noland, who had three kills, two blocks, two assists and one digs played well, as well.
"Sam Noland had an excellent game. It was one of her better games of the season. She did well at the net blocking."
Kela Lau Hee topped all Rebel defensive players in digs with 24. Besides Richard's 12, Jeralynn Makaiwi pitched in 14 of her own to give UNLV three in double-figures. Lau Hee's and Makaiwi's tallies were career-highs for both.
"Kela played well and had a lot of digs. She stayed with the ball well."
UNM was led by a double-double from Rose Morris, who tallied 11 kills and 10 digs. Morris added five blocks (one solo), as well.
Anna Lehne and Hadfield joined Morris in double-figures with 14 and 13 kills, respectively.
Michaelsen dished out a team-high 44 assists and added six digs, five blocks and four kills.
UNLV returns to action on Saturday, Nov. 14 (noon) against the TCU Horned Frogs. The day is billed as "Senior Day". The Rebels will recognize Greenwood, Richard, Noland and Jessica Walters for their time spent at UNLV.
