Oct. 15, 2011
Final Stats
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LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV Rebels (10-10 overall, 3-4 Mountain West), wearing pink jerseys and accessories for today's "Dig Pink®" match, swept past the Air Force Falcons (3-17, 0-7) Saturday afternoon by a score of 3-0 (25-20, 25-17, 25-16). The win was the 24th consecutive by the Rebels, 18 of which were sweeps, in the head-to-head series and it improved UNLV's overall record against Air Force to 30-2.
UNLV out-hit Air Force .266 to .070 and amassed 12 more kills (41-29) and six fewer errors (16-22) on six less attacks (94-100). The Rebels hit .235 or better in each of their sets, including a .320 effort in the second frame. The Falcons, on the other hand, hit .160 or below in each stanza and bottomed out with a -.029 in the third and final set.
One of the reasons that the Falcons registered such a paltry hitting efficiency was due to the Rebel blockers. The front row defenders racked up 13 total blocks with one solo put back and 24 of the assisted variety. The 13 blocks are the second most amassed by the team this season in a match and only trail the 14.0 tallied last Thursday night in a five-set outing against Boise State.
Candice Thomas led the Rebels with seven assisted blocks, which ties her career/season-high. Thomas, who also had six kills and an assist, was joined by seven other players that had at least one assisted block. Madeline Westman had five assisted blocks, eight kills, two aces and a dig.
UNLV was by an all-around effort from Stephanie Thelen, who had a match-high 29 assists and added seven kills on .500 hitting, six digs and four blocks (one solo).
Makenzie Moea'i threw down a match-best 12 kills and was the only attacker to notch double figures in kills on the day. Moea'i hit .500 without committing an error in 24 attempts. She also added three assisted blocks and a dig.
Defensively, Allison Davies dug out 12 of the team's 43 digs. Layne Wilson added seven of her own, as well.
Air Force's offense was run through Hillary Keltner and Josalynn Wise, who both had 12 assists apiece. Keltner also had three digs, one assisted block and a kill to Wise's eight digs and one ace.
Cami Richan led the Falcons in kills with eight, besides providing seven digs, two assists and an assisted block.
Maiya Perich had a team-best 10 digs for Air Force and threw in a kill.
UNLV hits the road for two matches next week with the first a televised affair on Friday, Oct. 21 against the San Diego State Aztecs. The match is set to begin at 6:00 pm and will be aired live by The Mtn. Following the match, the Rebels will head north to Bakersfield, Calif., to square off against the Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners on Saturday, Oct. 22 at 5:00 pm.
