Sept. 3, 2010
Final Stats
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV Rebels (1-3) dropped a 3-0 decision (24-26, 17-25, 14-25) to the #19 Michigan Wolverines (3-1) Friday evening at Oregon State's Active Ankle Challenge in Corvallis, Ore. UNLV was led offensively by Kelsey Keeler and Sara Nehf, who had eight kills apiece.
UNLV fought tooth and nail with Michigan in the first set nearly taking the opening frame from the nationally-ranked squad, but ultimately succumbed down the stretch to fall behind 1-0. The set featured nine ties and four lead changes with the Rebels holding their last advantage at the 23-22 juncture. Unfortunately, the Wolverines rattled off four of the next five points to take the stanza by a 26-24 margin.
The second and third sets were Michigan's from the get-go. The Rebels knotted up the second frame twice, but never could muster a lead as Michigan went up 2-0 with the 25-17 win. The third set was much tighter, as UNLV forced five ties and one lead change before the Wolverines claimed it 25-14.
UNLV was out-hit .125 to .284 in the match. The Rebels had their best hitting performance in the first set with a .190 average compared to the .138 in the second and .030 in the third. Michigan, on the other hand, cranked out team-best .333 effort in the second, which was closely followed by a .323 in the third. They opened with a .229 average. The Wolverines racked up 16 more kills with a 47-to-31 advantage and only committed two less errors, 16-to-18.
The Rebels nearly got a double-double from Amanda Alles, but she fell one dig shy with nine, as she nearly coupled that with her team-high 22 assists. Alles also added three kills and two blocks (one solo).
Besides Keeler's and Nehf's eight kills, UNLV got four each from Madeline Westman and Sekola Falemaka. Westman had five blocks and three digs, as well. Falemaka had two blocks and two digs.
Kela Lau Hee led the Rebels in digs with 13.
The Wolverines were paced offensively by a double-double from Alex Hunt, who combined 11 kills with 11 digs. Jennifer Cross tied Hunt's output with 11 kills of her own and added seven blocks (two solo) and five digs. Cross also had a match-high .500 hitting efficiency with two errors on 18 attempts.
Lexi Zimmerman had a match-high 30 assists with six kills, six digs and three assisted blocks.
Sloane Donhoff tied Hunt for the team with 11 digs.
UNLV returns to action Saturday with two matches. They open up with a 12:30 pm match against Oregon State followed by a 5:00 pm affair with Florida Gulf Coast.
