Nov. 20, 2011
Final Stats
ALBUQUERQUE (UNLVRebels.com) - The seventh-seeded UNLV Rebels (14-17) run in the 2011 Mountain West Volleyball Championship came to an end Sunday night with their 3-0 loss to the top-seeded Colorado State Rams (22-5) at the Johnson Center in Albuquerque. With the win, CSU, who won the match with set scores of 25-14, 25-14, 25-22, earned the conference's automatic bid to the 2011 NCAA Tournament that will begin in two weeks.
The loss ended UNLV's five-match winning streak in MW postseason play, dating back to 2007, the last year the tournament was contested.
The Rams out-hit the Rebels .298 to .035 in the match with both squads attempting 114 swings apiece. CSU's offense was spurred by two sets of .302 (third set) hitting or better with its lowest output being .229 in the middle stanza. Overall, they threw down 19 more kills (46-27) and committed 11 fewer errors (12-23). UNLV, on the other hand, hit below .108 (third) in all three frames.
The match featured 14 ties and seven lead changes with the majority of both taking place in the third set. The first had two ties and two lead changes, while the second was CSU's from the start.
The final set was a back-and-forth affair that witnessed UNLV take a short-lived lead after the ninth of 12 ties coming at 14-all. The Rebels rattled off five-straight points to take a 19-14 edge. Unfortunately, the Rams weathered the storm and scored 11 of the final 14 points to win the third.
The Rebels were led by19 assists and eight digs from Stephanie Thelen, who was named the MW Championship's Most Outstanding Setter. Thelen also chipped in three blocks and two kills.
Candice Thomas joined Thelen on the eight-person all-tournament team after throwing down six kills on .238 hitting with two digs.
Defensively, Allison Davies had a match-high 15 digs, while pitching in an assist and a kill.
At the net, Madeline Westman had a team-best four blocks, besides her three kills and one dig.
CSU was led by an 11-kill and eight-dig effort from Katelyn Steffan, the conference's player of the year and all-tournament MVP.
Deedra Foss combined 30 assists and 13 digs for the match's lone double-double.
Breion Paige, Dana Cranston and Lizzy Gaulia were also placed on the all-tournament team, as well. Paige was instrumental in the finale with seven kills off .462 hitting and six blocks (one solo). Cranston played well offensively and defensively with eight kills and 10 digs. Gaulia was selected as the tournament's designated libero with 13 digs.
2011 Mountain West All-Tournament TeamPlayer SchoolCandice Thomas UNLVDana Cranston Colorado StateBrieon Paige Colorado StateKatelyn Stefan Colorado StateYvonne Igodan TCUJodi Purdy Wyoming
Setter: Stephanie Thelen, UNLVLibero: Izzy Gaulia, Colorado State
MVP: Katelyn Steffan, Colorado State
