Aug. 29, 2009
Final Stats
LAS VEGAS - The UNLV Rebel volleyball team (1-1) notched its first victory of 2009 with a 3-1 (25-21, 25-22, 22-25, 25-19) win over the Valparaiso Crusaders (0-2) Saturday afternoon at the Campus USA Credit Union Invitational in Gainesville, Fla. The Rebels were paced by Sara Nehf's double-double and double-digit kill outings from Cursty Jackson and Erin Greenwood.
The Rebels out-hit the Crusaders .216 to .159 and notched 10 more kills holding a 57-to-47 advantage. Valparaiso committed three more errors (28-to-25) in 11 more swings (159-to-148). UNLV topped out with a .438 hitting efficiency in the first set and then stayed in the .075 to .214 range the remainder of the match. Valparaiso, on the other hand, never hit above .200, which they achieved in the first set. The Crusaders were held below .143 the final three frames.
Nehf's double-double gave her five for her career, as she combined 11 kills with 12 digs for the feat. She hit at a .286 clip with only three errors in 28 swings and chipped in four assisted blocks. The four blocks were a career best.
Jackson led the squad with 16 kills and helped the squad in various other facets in the match. She assisted on five blocks, dug out four attacks, assisted on three kills and served up two aces. The two aces were a career best, while the four digs tied her personal high.
Greenwood led all attackers with a .529 hitting efficiency with only one error to 10 kills in 17 attempts. She registered four assisted blocks, two digs and one assist, as well.
Samantha Richard and Amanda Alles split the setting duties for the Rebels, as they had 21 and 18 assists, respectively. Both figures rank as career bests for each. The duo contributed defensively, as well. Richard had seven digs to Alles' six.
Kela Lau Hee registered a career-high 15 digs, while leading the Rebels in double-figures. Kelsey Keeler joined Lau Hee and Nehf in the defensive category with 10 digs of her own. Keeler's 10 digs were a career high, as were her four assists.
Valparaiso was led by a double-double from Kim Bukowski, who conjoined 27 assists with 11 digs. The Crusaders had three players rack up double-digit kills, as Katie Britton led the way with 14. Angie Porche and Tara Diebler followed closely behind with 11 and 10, respectively. Taylor Root topped all players in the match with her 18 digs.
The Rebels are back in action next weekend when they host the Alexis Park Classic on Friday (Sept. 4) and Saturday (Sept. 5). UNLV will welcome #9 UCLA, Idaho and Loyola Marymount to Las Vegas for the two-day affair. Idaho and Loyola Marymount serve up the tournament on Friday at 4:30 pm with the opening match, while UNLV and UCLA will follow at 7:00 pm.
