Aug 19, 2013
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - With the start of the 2013 season less than two weeks away, the UNLV volleyball program will host its second annual Scarlet & Gray Scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 24 at 6:30 pm at the Cox Pavilion practice gym.
Last year's intrasquad event was won by the Gray team in four sets - 25-21, 25-22, 21-25, 25-16.
This year's roster is comprised of seven returning letterwinners - six of which were starters in 2012 - and nine newcomers. The fresh faces to the volleyball program include one junior college transfer (Jayme Jacinto - Hawaii), one redshirt freshman (Bree Hammel - Las Vegas) and seven freshmen.
The 2013 squad will be led by the senior leadership of Stephanie Thelen, Sekola Falemaka and Madeline Westman, a two-time Mountain West All-Conference Team selection. Thelen and Westman have each played in every match dating back to the 2011 campaign, while Falemaka has only missed eight of the 60 contests played by the Rebels the past two campaigns.
Besides the aforementioned trio, juniors Allison Davies and Daryn Glenn have been stalwarts in the Rebel lineup since their freshman year of 2011. Both players participated in all 60 matches of their careers with the former stepping on the court in all 226 sets compared to 224 for the latter.
Redshirt junior Katlin Winters has been a member of the program for four years and saw her court time increase last season. Winters played in 24 matches and a total of 84 sets after playing in a total of 11 contests her first two years.
In addition to the upperclassmen, Ceannia Kincade returns for her sophomore season after seeing action in 13 matches in 2012.
The seven true freshmen hail from seven different states. Las Vegas native Gianni Perryman had the shortest distance to travel, while her teammate Julia Topor trekked across the country from New Jersey to join the Rebel program. The remaining quintet - Natalie Bulen (Colorado), Megan Dempsey (California), Carly Riehl (Washington), Sadie Stutzman (Idaho) and Alyssa Wing (Iowa) - are from west of the Mississippi River.
The Scarlet & Gray kick off the 2013 slate with its own UNLV Invitational on Aug. 30-31. The four-team tournament will see UNLV square off against Cal State Fullerton in the home opener on Friday, Aug. 30 at 6:00 pm. The following day, they will play Portland and Kansas State at 12:00 pm and 7:00 pm, respectively.
The Rebels have seven matches against five foes - Colorado State (twice), San Diego State (twice), Arizona State, Kansas State and Western Kentucky - that earned berths to the 2012 NCAA Tournament.
Four of those six teams that played in last year's postseason received votes in the AVCA Division I Coaches Top 25 Preseason Poll. WKU enters the 2013 season ranked 21st following its 33-4 mark a year ago. KSU, CSU and SDSU received between six to 32 votes to fall in the 32nd through 40th range.
Tickets for the 2013 season can be purchased online at UNLVTickets.com or by calling 702.739.FANS (3267). Season tickets are $45 for adults, while Faculty/Staff and Seniors are $35 apiece. Individual match prices are $8 for adults and $5 for Faculty/Staff and Seniors. As always, children 12 and under are free to all volleyball matches.
