09/17/2016 Box Score
Sept. 17, 2016 Box Score
PROVO, Utah (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV volleyball team picked up its second win of the season over the CSUN Matadors -- both by 3-0 scores -- Saturday morning in the BYU/UVU Challenge at BYU's Smith Fieldhouse. With the victory, the Rebels improved to 11-0 on the year and extended their program-best win streak to 12 matches. UNLV claimed the match with set scores of 25-19, 25-23, 25-20.
UNLV outhit CSUN by 43 points (.140 to .97) behind an advantage of one kill (36-35) and four fewer errors (19-24) in eight more attack attempts (121-113). Both squads posted their best hitting efficiencies in the third, as the Rebels registered a .222 clip (12-2-45) to the Matadors' .174 (16-8-46).
"I liked our team focus today," said head coach Cindy Fredrick. "We came out and served very tough, so we were able to keep Northridge out of system most of the match. We got down in the second set, but showed good composure, once again, and came back."
Alexis Patterson was instrumental on both sides of the net. Offensively, the reigning Mountain West Player of the Week had a match-high 31 assists to go along with three kills and two aces. Defensively, Patterson added six digs and five assisted blocks.
Bree Hammel and Alyssa Wing, who had nine and seven kills, respectively, paced the Rebel attack. Both players had one assisted block, but the former led the team with 10 digs to five from the latter.
UNLV had six different players amass five or more digs, including Hammel's, Patterson's and Wing's contributions. Carly Riehl (eight digs), Laura Butler (six) and Sadie Stutzman (five) rounded out the group that stopped 40 CSUN attack attempts.
The Matadors were paced by a match-high 17 kills from Aeryn Owens, 23 digs assists from Kamalu Makekau-Whittaker and 14 digs apiece from Kristey Markle and Katie Sato.
The Rebels will remain at Smith Fieldhouse for a match against the No. 9 BYU Cougars Saturday (5:00 pm MT/4:00 pm PT). Both squads are receiving votes in the AVCA's Division I Top 25 Poll.
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).
