Hammel Hammers Home Conference Honor
11/10/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - UNLV's Bree Hammel was named the Mountain West Women's Volleyball Player of the Week for matches played Nov. 3-9, 2014. It's the first MW weekly honor of Hammel's career.
The Las Vegas native helped the Rebels to a perfect 2-0 record on the road last week that began with a come-from-behind five-set victory at New Mexico and was followed by a 3-1 win at Air Force. In the two matches, she combined to record team bests in kills (29) and hitting efficiency (.356).
The redshirt sophomore averaged 3.22 kills and 1.00 blocks per set and hit at a .356 clip. Her weekly kill average was 0.72 above her season average.
Against UNM, middle blocker threw down a season- and career-high 20 kills off a .395 hitting average. She added five assisted blocks and three digs. She notched a minimum of three kills in four of the five sets and six in both the first and fourth frames. In the fifth set alone, she had four kills against no errors in six swings and two of her three digs.
At the USAF Academy, she had nine kills off a .286 effort to go along with four total blocks (one solo) and four digs. After the Rebels and Falcons went into the intermission knotted at one-set apiece, Hammel threw down five kills and no errors in nine attempts. She chipped in two digs and three total blocks (all in the fourth set).
"Bree has been so instrumental to our success both offensively and defensively," said head coach Cindy Fredrick. "We are so glad to see her recognized for her hard work and what she brings to the team.
Hammel is the first Rebel to earn MW Player of the Week recognition since Stephanie Thelen was selected on Sept. 30, 2013.
The Rebels return to the Cox Pavilion to host in-state rival Nevada, Reno and San Jose Staté this week. Thursday's affair (6:00 pm) with UNR will have implications in the standings for the Governor's Series presented by NV Energy and sponsored by Barrick Gold. Fans that wear red to the "Rebel Red Rivalry Night" will receive half-priced tickets, while the first 500 can get either a free UNLV volleyball T-shirt or rally towel. For the SJSU match, fans that wear pink to the team's Pink Game (Breast Cancer Awareness Night) will receive half-priced admission and the first 250 can get a free UNLV volleyball headband.
