Box Score

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV volleyball team (6-3) claimed the Rebel Challenge tournament title with its 3-1 victory (26-24, 23-25, 25-10, 26-24) over the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles (5-4) Saturday afternoon at the Cox Pavilion. With the win, the Scarlet & Gray went 3-0 during the two-day tournament, and extended its home winning streak to seven dating back to the 2014 regular-season finale.

UNLV outhit ORU by 166 points (.274 to .108) despite its attackers attempting 17 fewer swings (113 to 130). Both sides registered 49 kills, but the Rebels committed 17 fewer errors (18-35) to aid in the higher hitting efficiency. The Rebels notched higher hitting averages in all four frames and stayed within a .212 (first set) to a .333 (fourth) range compared to the Golden Eagles who topped out at .257 (fourth), but tallied a paltry -.161 showing in the third.

"This was such an intense match," said head coach Cindy Fredrick. "I'm very proud of our kids for staying the course. This was classic teamwork today."

The Rebels' Bree Hammel was named the Challenge's MVP, while her teammates Alexis Patterson, Sadie Stutzman and Ashley Owens were selected to the all-tournament team.

Hammel, who hit .421 with 30 kills and also had 16 total blocks (two solo), six digs, three aces and two assists on the weekend, had seven kills and six assisted blocks against ORU. She also chipped in two assists and two digs.

Patterson led the Rebels behind her 12th career double-double, which was compiled off a combination of a match-high 12 digs and a team-high 33 assists. Patterson also added three kills, three assisted blocks, two assists and one ace.

Owens paced the attack with a team-high 13 kills backed by a match-high .545 average to couple with five total blocks (one solo). Stutzman had eight kills with three assisted blocks, two assists and two digs.

The Golden Eagles had a pair of attackers record 10 or more kills, as Laura Milos had 17 and Shelby Cox had 13. The former combined her kills with 10 digs for a double-double, while the latter had three assisted blocks and two digs. Lucija Bojanjac had a match-high 43 in a losing effort for ORU.

UNLV returns to action in Tempe, Ariz., at the Red Lyon Invitational next weekend. The Rebels will square off against host #10 Arizona State Friday, Sept. 18 (noon) and a day later against #7 Illinois (10:00 am) and Texas Southern (5:00 pm).

2015 Rebel Challenge Final Standings
1. UNLV (3-0)
2. Oral Roberts (1-2)
2. Portland State (1-2)
2. Southeastern Louisiana (1-2)

2015 Rebel Challenge All-Tournament Team
MVP - Bree Hammel, UNLV
Alexis Patterson, UNLV
Sadie Stutzman, UNLV
Ashley Owens, UNLV
Shelby Cox, Oral Roberts
Eva Linden, Portland State
Tiffany Thomas, Southeastern Louisiana