Sept. 17, 2011

Final Stats

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV Rebels (6-6) went toe-to-toe with the Baylor Bears (11-3) Saturday night in the finale of the UNLV Classic held inside the Cox Pavilion, but came up short in the five-set decision. Trailing 2-1, UNLV fought back and won the fourth set to force a fifth and final stanza. The Rebels kept the pedal down and carried their momentum into the fifth and scored the first five points and even owned a six-point lead at the 8-2 mark, but the Bears turned things around and ultimately, claimed the set and match by winning 13 of the final 17 points. Baylor won the match by scores of 25-23, 20-25, 25-18, 16-25, 15-12.

Baylor claimed the UNLV Classic title with a perfect 3-0 record on the weekend. San Francisco finished second with a 2-1 mark, while UNLV (1-2) and Fresno State (0-3) rounded out the tournament at third and fourth.

UNLV out-hit Baylor .238 to .198 in the match. The Rebels owned better hitting efficiencies in the first, second and fourth sets, while the Bears claimed the third and fifth. The home squad hit .209 or better in four of their five sets, including a .406 effort in the second. The visitors, on the other hand, hit .103 or better in all five frames and topped out at .381 in the fifth. UNLV tallied one less error (62-to-63) and six fewer errors (23-to-29) on eight less swings (164-to-172).

Makenzie Moea'i and Stephanie Thelen were both named to the Classic's All-Tournament Team and led the Rebel offense Saturday evening. Moea'i had a match-high 19 kills, five digs and two assisted blocks. Thelen had a match-high 50 assists and chipped in six kills, six digs and three assisted blocks.

Taylor Richard, who has mostly played the libero position this season, was moved to an outside hitter position and threw down 12 kills to go along with eight digs, three assists and one solo block.

The back-row defense was led by double-figure efforts from Allison Davies and Daryn Glenn. Davies had a match-high 24 digs to Glenn's 14. Glenn also contributed nine kills on the night.

Baylor got double-doubles from Brittany Ridenour and Allison King. Ridenour combined 48 assists and 12 digs for the feat, while also amassing eight kills and two assisted blocks. King achieved the feat with 10 assists and 20 digs.

The Bears had four attackers rack up double-digit kill tallies with Alyssa Dibbern's 15 leading the squad. Torri Campbell and Briana Tolbert had 11 apiece, while Zoe Adom had 10 to round out the quartet.

Earlier in the evening, San Francisco swept Fresno State by a 3-0 score.

UNLV returns to action this upcoming Wednesday (Sept. 21) on the road against in-state rival Nevada, Reno. First serve is scheduled for 6:00 pm.

UNLV Classic All-Tournament TeamMVP: Adri Nora, Baylor
Allison King, BaylorBriana Tolbert, BaylorMakenzie Moea'i, UNLVStephanie Thelen, UNLVValentina Zaloznik, San FranciscoVendula Strakova, San Francisco