10/27/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
2015 UNLV Volleyball Weekly Notes - Week 10
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV Rebels return to Las Vegas to host six of their final nine regular-season matches in the Cox Pavilion beginning with Thursday night's 6:00 pm tussle against the Utah State Aggies. UNLV, who just concluded an eight-day stretch that saw them play four road contests, begins the second-half of the Mountain West season sitting in fourth place with a 5-4 Conference mark.
Following the USU affair, the Rebels will remain at home for Saturday's tilt with the second-place Boise State Broncos (7-3) at 5:00 pm. The match was originally scheduled for 1:00 pm that afternoon, but with the UNLV football game kicking off at 12:30 pm - coincidentally against Boise State - the volleyball bout was moved back to allow Rebel fans to attend both events.
LOOKIN' LIVE ON THE WORLDWIDE WEB: The UNLV Rebels will have live statistics available for both of their matches this week. In addition, Thursday night's contest against the Utah State Aggies will be streamed live in conjunction with the Mountain West Network. Links to live stats as well as video can be found at UNLVRebels.com.
UPCOMING PROMOTIONS
Thursday vs. Utah State: First 150 fans receive a free t-shirt.
Saturday vs. Boise State: Free admission with ticket stub from the UNLV-Boise State football game ... First 100 kids in Halloween costume receive free pumpkin backpack and have the chance to line up with the players during introduction ... Candy giveaway.
WAITIN' ON THE SIDELINES: Following the UNLV Rebels pair of home matches this week, the team will hit the road for their final two-match swing with stops in Reno, Nev., and San Diego. The UNR affair on Nov. 5 (6:30 pm) has Governor's Series presented by NV Energy and Barrick Gold implications riding on it - three points are up for grabs in the standings. After its trip to northern Nevada, UNLV will head to America's Finest City for a return engagement with the San Diego State Aztecs on Nov. 7 (6:00 pm).
OWENS BLOCKS HER WAY TO WEEKLY AWARD: UNLV volleyball's Ashley Owens was chosen the Mountain West's Defensive Player of the Week for matches played Oct. 19-25. In all, this is the fourth instance that a Rebel has won the Conference's defensive award with Alexis Patterson and Carly Riehl (twice) previously recognized.
The sophomore from Amarillo, Texas, helped the Rebels to a 1-1 mark last week in road matches at Fresno State and San Jose State. She was instrumental on both sides of the net with team highs in blocks per set (2.22), assisted blocks (19) and total blocks (20) to go along with a .375 hitting efficiency, 19 kills and a 2.11 kills-per-set average.
Against FS, she had a match-high 10 total blocks (one solo) plus eight kills (.286), one assist and one dig.
Two days later, she had another 10 total blocks (all assisted) to pair with 11 kills off a .474 hitting efficiency, one assist and one dig.
THE NUMBERS ARE IN: With nine weeks of volleyball in the books, the NCAA released its weekly installment of national statistics Monday, Oct. 26, and the UNLV Rebels are ranked in the top 100 as a team on three occasions. In addition, four members of the Rebels are listed individually in a total of seven categories.
UNLV's highest ranking is in blocks per set (3.05), which is the fifth-best in the country. It is also ranked sixth in team total blocks (244.0) and 39th in opponent hitting percentage (.166).
Bree Hammel is listed in three categories: 52nd in total blocks (98), 58th in blocks per set (1.23) and 125th in hitting percentage (.335).
Ashley Owens, Alexis Patterson and Carly Riehl are in a pair of categories apiece. Owens sits 12th in total blocks (115) and 15th in blocks per set (1.51). Patterson is 106th in total assists (760) and 118th in blocks per set (9.50). Riehl ranks 106th in total digs (352) and 107th in digs per set (4.40).
HOME SWEET HOME: The UNLV Rebels have played nine of their 20 matches at home in the Cox Pavilion this season with all nine going in the book as victories. Including these nine wins and a 3-1 triumph over San Diego State (Nov. 25) in the finale of the 2014 campaign, UNLV has won 10 straight at home. Additionally, the Rebels have come out on the right side in 13 of their last 14 home affairs,
The program record for consecutive home wins is 12, which was achieved in 2007.
