Sept. 22, 2016 Box Score
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV volleyball team jumped back into the win column Thursday evening with its 3-1 triumph over the Boise State Broncos (9-5, 0-1 MW) to kick off Mountain West play for both squads. The Rebels got 23 and 16 kills from Bree Hammel and Sadie Stutzman, respectively, and a double-double from Alexis Patterson to power past the Broncos in the Cox Pavilion. The Scarlet & Gray improved to 12-1 on the year and 1-0 in MW play behind set scores of 25-23, 17-25, 25-21, 28-26.
With the victory, UNLV has claimed all seven of its matches played in the Cox Pavilion this year and, in turn, that win streak ranks as the second best to open a campaign in program history; right behind 2015's 10-0 start. Additionally, this year's beginning coupled with a 3-1 win over Fresno State in the 2015 season finale has given the Rebels an eight-match winning stretch that only trails one that spanned 11 consecutive from the 2014 finale -- a 3-1 win over San Diego State -- and the 10 from '15.
For the first time this season, UNLV was outhit by an opponent in a win. The Broncos held a slight, seven-point edge in hitting (.191 to .184) over the Rebels. That small advantage was aided by one more kill (57-56) off of one fewer attack attempt (162-163). Both sides committed 26 errors offensively. UNLV hit between .200 and .255 in three of its sets -- all wins; however, it only mustered up a .068 effort in the second. BSU, on the other hand, topped out with a .278 in its second-set win, but had a .152 (first), .103 (third) and .222 (fourth) in the other frames.
Besides the offensive figures, both sides produced nearly identical numbers in assists, digs and blocks. The Broncos held a slight lead, 55-54, in assists, but the Rebels had two more total blocks (13.0-11.0), one more solo block (4-3) and assisted blocks (18-16). Each team was able to produce 68 digs.
"I thought we played with a lot of focus and intensity tonight," said head coach Cindy Fredrick. "Our back row played so well - between Elisa (Woinowsky), Carly (Riehl) and Laura (Butler), they kept the ball in play. Boise State is such a solid team, so this was a good win for us. I like the numbers Sadie and Bree put up offensively, and Caitlin (Wernentin) came in and gave us a good lift."
Hammel and Stutzman and their double-digit kill tallies paced UNLV's attack. The former hit .292 and also added nine digs and three total blocks (one solo) to the latter's .316 hitting clip, four digs and three assisted blocks.
Patterson notched match-high 47 assists and coupled those with 11 digs for sixth double-double of the season. She also added three assisted blocks and one kill.
Defensively, four different Rebels chalked up double figures in digs. Elisa Woinowsky led all with a match-best 17 while Laura Butler had 13 to 12 and 11 from Carly Riehl and Patterson, respectively.
At the net, Ashley Owens had a total of eight blocks (two solo). Four others -- Patterson, Stutzman, Hammel and Elsa Descamps -- had a hand in three blocks apiece.
UNLV overcame a six-point deficit (17-11) in the opening stanza and a five-point disparity (14-9) in the third for two of its wins. In the first, the Rebels come-from-behind run began by winning eight of nine points and using that to spark an 11-4 run for the 25-23 victory. After seeing BSU gallop away with the second frame, UNLV found itself trailing 14-9; however, the home team scored five straight -- to knot the set at 14-all -- and 16 of the final 23 points for the 25-21win.
The fourth set could not have been any more dramatic, as it featured four lead changes and 12 ties. The Broncos worked their way to four set-point chances only to see the Rebels fend off each one. The Scarlet & Gray was able to close out the set and, subsequently, the match with help from kills by Hammel and Stutzman as well as a block shared by Owens and Stutzman.
UNLV returns to the Cox Pavilion Saturday afternoon at 3:00 pm against the Air Force Falcons. The first 100 fans in attendance will receive free t-shirts while Coffee Bean gift certificates will be awarded throughout the match. Additionally, fans that plan on going to the UNLV-Idaho football game can stop by to view some volleyball prior to their trek to Sam Boyd Stadium. Any fan with a football ticket can show their ticket for free admittance to the volleyball contest.
Notes: Patterson notched her 3,000th career assist in the match, and it occurred on her 16th helper of the contest ... UNLV's win over BSU snapped a four-match losing skid to the Broncos ... With the win, UNLV has won seven season- and home-opening matches against MW competition ... UNLV sits 13-5 and 12-6, respectively, in season- and home-opening tilts ... In the program's career record book, Owens moved into ninth in total blocks (240) and 10th in assisted blocks (218).
