Aug. 26, 2017 Box Score | @UNLVvball | 2017 UNLV Schedule | 2017 UNLV Invitational Results | Purchase Tickets
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - UNLV Volleyball overcame an early 1-0 deficit to defeat the Eastern Washington Eagles, 3-1 (18-25, 25-23, 25-19, 25-12), Saturday afternoon in the sixth and final match of the UNLV Invitational at the Cox Pavilion. The Rebels (2-1) claimed second place in the four-team, two-day tournament, while the Eagles (1-2) finished third. UC Davis (3-0) was crowned the tournament champion after it defeated Binghamton (0-3) earlier in the day.
The Scarlet & Gray outhit the Eagles by 109 points (.246 to .137), and held advantages in kills (48-41) and errors (17-23) despite its offense attempting five fewer attack attempts (126-131). UNLV also owned the edge on the defensive side of the net with six more total team blocks (12.0-6.0) with four solo blocks and 16 assisted blocks compared to two and eight, respectively, from the visitors from the Evergreen State.
The Rebels' Mariana Hayden registered her second straight double-double with help from 14 kills and 12 digs. Elsa Descamps and Ashley Owens joined Hayden with double-figure kill totals of their own, as they had 13 and 10, respectively, to go along with their combined 11 total blocks (three solo/eight assisted). Hayden was also one of three Rebels to have 10 or more digs with Leka Kiner-Falefa (18 digs) and Jill Berg (12) rounding out the trio.
THE TURNING POINT: EWU began the match with only two attacking errors and a .406 hitting efficiency after the first set of play, but committed 21 miscues and was held to a paltry .051 average the remainder of the match. The Eagles hit .086 and -.086 in the second and fourth sets, respectively, while they produced a .172 effort in the third frame. UNLV, on the other hand, outhit EWU in the final three stanzas, and had a match-best .407 effort in the third.
STAT OF THE GAME: UNLV jumped out to early leads in both the third and fourth sets and never relinquished them in either frame, although EWU managed to force three ties in the third and one in the fourth. In the first two sets, the teams combined for 14 ties and eight lead changes.
REBEL OF THE GAME: Mariena Hayden had a team-high 14 kills to go along with 12 digs to register her second straight and second career double-double. Hayden also added two aces and two total blocks (one solo) in the win.
QUOTABLE: "I am so proud of the comeback our kids had today," said head coach Cindy Fredrick. "We missed a lot of serves in the match, but at the end Leka (Kiner-Falefa), Mo (Mariena Hayden) and Elsa (Descamps) had some tremendous serves. Ashley (Owens) really lit it up on hits today, and I thought she was just remarkable. We hit some goals today, so that was good."
REBEL NOTES:
*UNLV's 2-1 record to start the season marks the sixth straight year -- all under Fredrick -- that the team has begun with a winning mark -- 2-1 or 3-0.
*Owens moved into a three-way tie for ninth place (37) in UNLV's career solo blocks category alongside Katlin Winters (2010-14) and Sheila Ocasio-Clemente (2001-03). She is already eighth in both total blocks (329) and assisted blocks (292).
*UNLV improved to 3-1 against EWU with all three wins coming after the latter won the first meeting in 1997.
UNLV INVITATIONAL ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM: Hayden and Owens represented UNLV on the seven-member all-tournament team. UC Davis' Brianna Karsseboom was named the tourney's MVP, while teammates Lauren Matias and Lauren Jackson were also recognized. Binghamton's Gabriella Alicea and EWU's Ashley Seiler were also recognized for their exploits this weekend.
NEXT FOR THE REBELS: The Rebels return to the Cox Pavilion Tuesday night (August 29) to face Eastern Kentucky at 6:00 pm.
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 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.
