Aug. 25, 2017 Box Score | @UNLVvball | 2017 UNLV Schedule | 2017 UNLV Invitational Schedule | Purchase Tickets
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - UNLV Volleyball began its 2017 campaign with a 3-0 win over the Binghamton Bearcats Friday morning at the Cox Pavilion. The Rebels won the affair behind set scores of 25-16, 25-16, 25-18, and were led by double-digit kill efforts from freshmen Mariena Hayden (13 kills) and Jill Berg (10).
The Scarlet & Gray outhit the Bearcats by .208 points (.280 to .072) with advantages in both kills (38-27) and errors (12-20) despite its offense attempting four fewer attack attempts (93-97). UNLV opened the contest with a staggering .625 effort in the first set with 15 kills against no errors in 24 attempts; however, it hit a combined .159 showing (23-12-69) the remainder of the match. Binghamton, on the other hand, began with a .346 showing (12-3-26), but only mustered -.083 and .029 averages in the second and third sets, respectively.
THE TURNING POINT: UNLV jumped out to an early 1-0 lead and never looked back as it took the second set by the same score as the first. The Rebels came out after intermission and put the game away.
STAT OF THE GAME: Hayden and Berg combined for 23 of UNLV's 38 kills and hit at .367 while the rest of the team produced 15 kills off of a .182 efficiency.
REBEL OF THE GAME: Hayden had match highs in both kills (13) and hitting efficiency (13-3-25). The Belle Plaine, Minnesota, native also added eight digs, four aces, two assists and one assisted block in her first collegiate match.
QUOTABLE: "I thought we were able to shake off some first match jitters and played well," said head coach Cindy Fredrick. "Mariena and Jill didn't play like freshmen. They both did a great job up front and in the back row. Leka (Kiner-Falefa) controls the defense so well and her passing was terrific. Riley's (Jacob) first start was very good; she moved the sets around and got everyone involved. Ashley (Owens) and Elsa (Descamps) picked up from last year with solid blocking and hitting. You could see the team settling in and becoming comfortable with each other on the court. It was a good start to the season."
REBEL NOTES: *UNLV improved to 30-5 in its last 35 home matches at the Cox Pavilion dating back to a 3-1 win over then-No. 7 Colorado State on Nov. 1, 2014. The bulk of these victories came in the past two seasons, which concluded with identical 13-2 marks.
*With Friday's win, UNLV has won three straight season- and home-opening matches, and sits 7-1 in the first match played at home over the past eight years.
*Sophomore setter Riley Jacobs had a match-high 28 assists, four digs and two assisted blocks.
*Sophomore libero Leka Kiner-Falefa had a match-high 17 digs to go along with two assists and two aces.
*Middle blockers Elsa Descamps (four total blocks: 1 solo/3 assisted) and Ashley Owens (three: one/two) combined for 4.5 of the team's 7.0 blocks.
UNLV INVITATIONAL UPDATE: UC Davis defeated Eastern Washington, 3-1, in the second match of Friday's morning session.
NEXT FOR THE REBELS: The Rebels return to the Cox Pavilion Friday night to face the UC Davis Aggies (1-0) at 7:00 pm. The match follows the conclusion of the 5:00 pm affair between Binghamton and Eastern Washington.
TICKETS: Single-match and season tickets for the 2017 UNLV volleyball season are on sale now by visiting www.UNLVTickets.com or calling 702-739-FANS. In addition, special ticket pricing is available for groups of at least 20 by contacting Dan Johnson at Daniel.Johnson@unlv.edu or calling 702-895-1885.
Season tickets to all 16 home dates start at $40 for faculty, staff and seniors (62+) and $50 for adults. All single-match tickets can be purchased in-advance and online for as low as $5. As always, kids 12 and under and UNLV students with a valid Rebel Card are admitted for free.
