Nov. 13, 2010
Final Stats
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV Rebels (9-19, 4-10 MWC) picked up a five-set win over the Utah Utes (14-13, 8-4 MWC) in thrilling fashion on "Senior Day" from the Cox Pavilion Saturday afternoon. The victory was greatly influenced by the UNLV defense, which contributed 79 digs and a season-high 20 total blocks. The Rebels won the contest with set scores of 25-19, 20-25, 25-22, 19-25, 15-10.
The Rebels had three players register double-digits in digs with Kela Lau Hee leading the team with 19 followed by 17 apiece by Nile Te'o and Kendra Glendenning.
Amanda Alles came up big offensively and defensively, as she dished out a team-high 22 assists and tallied 11 blocks, six of the solo variety, for her third career double-double. Alles also contributed one kill, one ace and one dig on the day.
Sara Nehf led the Rebel offense with a match-high 19 kills and one-upped herself for the second consecutive match with a career-best 63 attempts. Nehf chipped in seven digs, one assisted block and one assist.
Candice Thomas and Makenzie Moea'i joined Nehf in kill double figures, as the pair notched 12 and 10 kills, respectively. Thomas also pitched in five total blocks (three solo), while Moea'i had two digs and an assist, as well.
Madeline Westman had eight total blocks of her own with one solo and also had five kills, two digs and one ace.
After dropping the fourth set, UNLV came out with a quickly in the fifth and final frame with a quick 3-0 lead. Utah eventually pulled even twice at 5-5 and 6-6, but never could muster enough to surpass the Rebels down the stretch. The home squad scored the next two points to push out to a 9-7 lead and maintained a safe distance between itself and Utah. The lead slowly grew as the set progressed with UNLV owning two different five-point advantages at 14-9 and finally at 15-10.
The first, second and third sets easily went to the team that hit the 15-point mark first with UNLV claiming the first and third, while Utah took second before heading into intermission. The third stanza was not as cut and dry, as the others. The Rebels staked themselves to a 6-0 lead and maintained it until the Utes slowly chipped away afterwards. Utah managed to tie the set twice at 20-20 and 21-21 before it watched UNLV score four of the final five points for the win.
Utah was led by a double-double from Karolina Bartkowiak with her combination of 17 kills and 19 digs. Bartkowiak also had five assisted blocks. Morgan Odale followed closely behind in the kill column with 15 of her own and also had seven digs and two blocks. Stephanie Neeley led all setters with a match-high 46 assists, while Keisha Fisher topped all in digs with 23.
UNLV was out-hit .096 to .141 in the match and threw down four less kills (54-58), but had three more errors (36-33) in 10 more swings (187-177). Neither team hit especially well in the match, but Utah did have a .293 outing in the fourth. UNLV never hit better than .200 (fifth set).
The Rebels recognized its four seniors - Kelsey Keeler, Jeralynn Makaiwi, Lau Hee and Nehf - before the contest.
The Rebels will become road warriors for the remainder of the season with two more conference contests. First up, is a trip to San Diego for a meeting with the Aztecs of San Diego State on Thursday, Nov. 18 at 7:00 pm.
