Sept. 26, 2009
Final Stats
SAN DIEGO - The UNLV Rebels (3-8 overall, 2-2 Mountain West) dropped a heartbreaking 3-2 (29-27, 14-25, 16-25, 25-20, 11-15) match to the San Diego State Aztecs (6-7, 1-2) Saturday afternoon from Peterson Gym. The loss snaps the Rebels two-match winning streak and closes out the three matches in five days stretch the team endured this week.
The Rebels notched its best hitting efficiency on the year with their .307 tally, but it wasn't enough, as SDSU hit at a .335 clip. The Aztecs amassed 13 more kills (75-to-62) and three more errors (22-to-19) in 18 more swings (158-to-140). The team that owned the best hitting percentage in each set wound up winning that frame. UNLV topped out at .455 in the fourth to push the match to a fifth set and hit no worse than .273 in four of the five frames. The Rebels' lowest tally came in the third when they hit .036. SDSU, on the other hand, owned .275 or better hitting figures throughout the contest. The Aztecs hit a staggering .619 in the second stanza.
"We came out really well, intense and focused," noted UNLV head coach Allison Keeley. "We lost our focus in the second and third sets before rallying in the fourth and fifth. It was our best offensive effort of the season. Cursty (Jackson), Sara (Nehf) and Kelsey (Keeler) swung very aggressively."
The first set began well for the hosts, as they jumped out to as much as a six-point lead at the 10-4 mark. The Rebels slowly pulled within striking distance as the set progressed and ultimately tied things up at 19-19. SDSU struck out for a two-point cushion at 21-19 only to watch the score get tied three more times before they had a chance at its first set point at 25-24. The teams had two chances to put the game away, but it wasn't until UNLV's final shot at 28-27 that they did so with help from a kill by Kelsey Keeler on the 29th point.
The Aztecs began strong in the second and never let up evening the score at 1-1. SDSU slowly built up its lead through the set before closing it out with an 11-point cushion.
UNLV began the third with a slight lead until SDSU evened things up at 9-9. The teams exchanged two more ties before the Aztecs took control of the frame en route to a nine-point win.
The Rebels got going quickly in the fourth pushing out to a five-point lead at the 7-2 juncture. The Aztecs trailed until tying the set at 13-13. The teams tied things up three more times before watching UNLV win four consecutive points after the last tie at 16-16. When all was said and done, UNLV had won nine of the last 13 points in the set to bring about the fifth and final set.
SDSU began the fifth with a 3-0 lead and never looked back en route to the 15-11 win. Down 10-6, UNLV pulled within one at 11-10 by taking four of five points. The Aztecs then claimed three straight scores to pull away at the 14-10 mark.
Sara Nehf notched career-highs against SDSU with her team-leading 19 kills and 45 attempts. Nehf added seven digs, two assisted blocks, one ace and one assist, as well.
Cursty Jackson and Keeler joined Nehf in double-digit kills with 16 and 13 of their own, respectively. Besides owning near similar kill tallies, they were close in hitting, as well. Jackson hit .387, while Keeler notched a .385.
Amanda Alles notched career-highs in assists (50) and kills (three), while tying her personal best in digs with six.
Kela Lau Hee and Nile Te'o racked up double digits in digs with 11 and 10, respectively. The 10 tallies are a career-high for Te'o.
"Our passing and defense improved, but it still needs to pick up another level," said Keeley.
The team had its best effort in blocking with 13.0 total blocks with three solo and 20 assisted. Erin Greenwood had a team-best seven blocks (two solo) to go along with her five kills. Jackson stuff six Aztec attacks with one of the solo variety.
UNLV is back in action Thursday night (Oct. 1) with a 6:30 pm contest with the Utah Utes in the Cox Pavilion. The match will be the first of three that the Rebels will have televised, as The Mtn.-The MountainSports Network will air this affair.
