Sept. 10, 2016 Box Score
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV volleyball team claimed another tournament title this weekend with its perfect 3-0 performance at the Islanders Classic in South Texas. The Rebels, which won twice Friday, completed the sweep with a 3-1 win (25-22, 14-25, 25-18, 25-14) over the UT Arlington Mavericks (3-7) Saturday morning at the Dugan Wellness Center. With the victory, the Scarlet & Gray improved to 9-0 and extended the program's best start in the process.
Dating back to the 2015 finale -- a 3-1, home triumph over Fresno State, the Scarlet & Gray has won 10 straight matches. This current stretch is now tied with the 1998 and 2007 editions for the longest winning streak in program history.
The Rebels outhit the Mavericks by nearly 100 points (.284 to .189) backed by 13 more kills (62-39) and three fewer errors (16-19) in only three more attack attempts (162-159). UNLV jumped out of the gate with a .500 hitting display with 21 kills against one error; however, it hit .000 in the second frame with eight kills countered by just as many miscues. The third and fourth stanzas were more positive for the Rebels, as they hit .256 and .375, respectively. UTA, too, led off with its best hitting clip (.326), but watched its efficiency decrease in each subsequent set with a .226 in the second, .143 in the third and .070 in the fourth.
"This was another up and down battle," said head coach Cindy Fredrick. "We had a good offensive performance from Caitlin (Wernentin), Bree (Hammel), Elsa (Descamps) and Sadie (Stutzman), so that balance helped. We saw some of the things we need to improve upon, as well. Overall, I'm glad to win on the road."
The Rebels had a quartet of hitters throw down 10 or more kills. Bree Hammel led all with 17 kills, and also added eight digs, two aces and one assisted block. Sadie Stutzman had 14 kills, five digs and one assisted block. Both Caitlin Wernentin and Elsa Descamps had 12 kills. The latter chipped in four digs, two assisted blocks and two aces.
Following the match, Hammel was named the tournament's MVP while Wernentin and Descamps were selected to the all-tourney team.
Alexis Patterson registered UNLV's only double-double with a combination of a career- and match-high 59 assists to go along with 12 digs. Patterson also had one kill and one assisted block.
Defensively, Carly Riehl (30 dig) and Laura Butler (15) were stalwarts in the back row, as they combined to halt 45 of UTA's attack attempts.
Qiana Canete (12 kills, 14 digs) and Cassidy Wheeler (24 assists, 11 digs) had double-doubles in a losing effort for UTA. Zhanelle Geathers also cracked double figures in kills with 10 while Claire Schwettmann dished out 12 assists. Libbie Vickers (11 digs) and Taylor Murata (21) joined Canete and Wheeler to give the Mavericks four players with 10 or more digs.
UNLV stays out on the road for three more contests with a trip to the Beehive State scheduled for next weekend (September 16-17). The Rebels will play in the BYU/UVU Challenge with a Friday match in Orem against Utah Valley. They'll head a bit east to Provo for two more Saturday beginning with CSUN and then No. 10 BYU.
The Scarlet & Gray are back in Las Vegas on September 22 (6:00 pm) to open Mountain West play against the Boise State Broncos. Two days later, UNLV will face the Air Force Falcons at 3:00 pm (September 24).
NOTES: Saturday's match is the first instance that UNLV has had four players notch 10 or more kills in the same contest since the 2015 season finale vs. Fresno State ... Descamps' 12 kills and 23 attack attempts tie career bests in both categories ... Butler's 15 digs are a career high ... UNLV improved to 5-0 in four-set matches ... UNLV is 4-0 in matches that are tied 1-all at the intermission.
