Sept. 9, 2011
Final Stats
The UNLV Rebels (4-3) sprinted out to a quick 2-0 lead against the Southern Utah Thunderbirds (1-7) only to see its opponent turn the tide and knot the score at 2-sets apiece after intermission. SUU broke out to a 5-2 lead in the fifth before UNLV turned the momentum in its favor and won 13 of the final 17 points for the come-from-behind win. Tonight's victory was the fourth straight for UNLV and the third consecutive claimed in five frames and they did it with set scores of 25-17, 25-21, 22-25, 18-25, 15-9.
UNLV hit .228 for the match and .200 or better in four of its five sets. They topped out at a .342 hitting efficiency in the second. The Rebels threw down a staggering 62 kills, while committing 29 errors on 145 swings. SUU, on the other hand, hit .189 for the match. The Thunderbirds hit their best in the second (.353), but also tallied .182 or worse averages in three sets.
Sekola Falemaka had the match's only double-double, as she combined 11 kills with 11 digs for the feat.
Falemaka was one of four Rebel attackers to amass double-digit kill figures. Makenzie Moea'i led all Rebels with 17 kills off of .333 hitting. Moea'i also added three blocks (two solo) and one dig.
Candice Thomas was second on the team in kills with 13 and added four blocks (one solo), as well.
Madeline Westman rounded out the double-digit kill quartet with 12 and also had four digs and two blocks (one solo).
Aiding in the Rebel attack was Stephanie Thelen and her 55 assists. Thelen dished out all but three helpers registered by UNLV. She also chipped in eight digs, two blocks (one solo), one ace and one kill.
Defensively, the Rebels had three players rack up 10 or more digs. Daryn Glenn, who had eight kills on the offensive side of the net, owned a match-high 15 digs. Taylor Richard followed closely behind with 14, while Falemaka had her 11.
Analaine Mailoto was the main offensive threat for SUU, as she had 20 of the team's 49 kills. Mailoto hit .326 in the match and contributed eight digs, three assists, two blocks and one ace.
Leading the Thunderbirds in other categories were Gabi Mirand (38 assists) and Jordan Anderson (13 digs).
In the day's earlier match, Cal State Northridge knocked off Eastern Washington 3-2. Northridge won all three of the odd sets, while EWU took the even ones.
The Rebels are back in action Saturday with a pair of matches. UNLV will face EWU first at 12:30 pm before a nightcap with Northridge at 7:00 pm. Saturday's schedule begins with a 10:00 am tilt between SUU and Northridge. Between the two UNLV matches, EWU and SUU will play at 4:30 pm.
