Box Score

PROVO, Utah (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV volleyball team (11-1) suffered its first loss of the 2016 season to the No. 9 BYU Cougars (11-1) in the championship match of the BYU/UVU Challenge held at Smith Fieldhouse. With the defeat, the Rebels' program-best, 12-match win streak came to an end. BYU won the match between former Mountain West foes by set scores of 25-19, 25-17, 25-21.

BYU outhit UNLV by 140 points (.289 to .149) in the match and owned advantages in kills (47-31) and attack attempts (114-101), but committed two more errors (16-14). The Cougars' offense progressively got better each set, as it began with a .222 hitting efficiency in set one and topped out with a .364 in the third. The Rebels followed suit after it began with a .000 before ended with a .265.

"We knew this would be a very tough match," said head coach Cindy Fredrick. "Their outside hitters could recall pound the ball, and with the exception of Bree (Hammel), we just didn't answer offensively. We're disappointed, but can't be too unhappy with an 11-1 preseason record."

Bree Hammel was the lone Rebel in double-digit kills with 15 kills off a .448 hitting display. Hammel also had six digs and three assisted blocks.

Alexis Patterson dished out a team-high 26 assists to go along with eight digs, one kill, one ace and one assisted block.

Both Hammel and Patterson were tabbed to the Challenge's All-Tournament Team.

Defensively, Carly Riehl led the Scarlet & Gray with 11 digs and Elsa Descamps had seven assisted blocks.

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).