LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The Rebel volleyball team (2-1) capped off the UNLV Invitational with a 3-0 victory over the LIU Brooklyn Blackbirds (1-2) Saturday afternoon at the Cox Pavilion. With the win, UNLV finished second overall in the two-day, season-opening tournament, as Indiana (3-0) took first place, LIU was third and Southern Utah (0-3) was fourth.
The Rebel offense performed well with a .358 hitting effort, while its defense limited the Blackbirds to a paltry .085 display. UNLV registered 18 more kills (44-26) and committed eight fewer errors (10-18) in only one more attack attempt (95-94). The home side also held advantages in assists (38-26), aces (6-5), digs (42-36) and total team blocks (11.0-2.0).
STAT OF THE GAME: The Rebels only committed three combined attack errors in the second and third sets against LIU. The team posted a set-hit .452 clip in the second with 16 kills against two errors in 31 swings. They followed that with a .375 off 13 kills and only one error in 32 swings.
STAT OF THE GAME, PART DEUX: The Rebels' 11 total team blocks came off of four solo putbacks and seven more of the assisted variery.
Kate Brennan and
Elsa Descamps led the way with five total blocks each with the former accumulating two solo and three assisted blocks to the latter's one solo and four assisted. In all, six different Rebels were credited with at least one block.
REBEL OF THE GAME: Mariena Hayden posted her second double-double of the season and 12th of her career with a combination 14 kills and 11 digs. Both figures were match highs. By virtue of her play this weekend, Hayden earned a spot on the UNLV Invitational's All-Tournament Team.
QUOTABLE: "I thought we played really great today; starting with our serve, we were really aggressive on the line and drilled that serving at the system right away," said Rebel head coach
Dawn Sullivan. "Secondly, our block. I thought we did a nice job taking their middles out of system, so they had to set their pins and then we played some really nice defense behind that. Third, I think, was our offense. We found our rhythm and we started ball controlling, so we could get the ball up to the setter and tend to go off. I'm really starting to see this team come alive. You can start to see it defensively, they're going for balls and they're being relentless in who they're wanting to be: that's with their block, that's backcourt, that's on the serving line, that's being smart when they're being offensive. I'm just really proud of them; what they've put in is what they're going get back out."
REBEL NOTES:
- This was the first meeting between UNLV and LIU.
- Four of the six Rebels that had at least five kills posted .357 or better hitting efficiencies: Hayden (14 for .357), Brennan (8 for .429), Descamps (6 for .600) and
Erin Davis (5 for .417).
UNLV INVITATIONAL ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM: Indiana's Kendall Beerman was the tourney's MVP, while her teammates Deyshia Lofton and Bayli Lebo were selected to the six-member squad. LIU's Piper Matsumoto and SUU's Miahna Waters were representatives from their respective squads, too.
NEXT FOR THE REBELS: UNLV hits the road with a trek across the country to the Steel City and the Duquesne Invitational next weekend (Aug. 31-1). The Rebels will play twice Friday against Youngstown State (10:00 am PT) and Duquesne (4:00 pm PT). A Saturday (10:00 am PT) with Bowling Green will close out the two-day affair in Pittsburgh.
REBELS AT HOME: UNLV returns to Las Vegas and the Cox Pavilion for its own Rebel Challenge in two weeks (Sept. 7-8). The Scarlet & Gray will welcome Cal State Fullerton, Eastern Kentucky and Fordham to town for the two-day affair.
PURCHASE TICKETS: Tickets are now on sale for the 2018 season. Season tickets are just $50 for adults, $40 for UNLV faculty/staff and seniors. Single-game ticket prices this season are $8 for adults, $6 for faculty/staff and seniors, though a special internet price of $5 is available for all tickets bought online at UNLVTickets.com, good up to three hours before the match. All high school, middle school and elementary students are now free at all UNLV volleyball contests under UNLV's new admission policy. To receive free admission, high school students must present valid Nevada area school I.D. at the box office on gameday to receive one (1) complimentary ticket. All other students will receive a complimentary ticket at the box office (no I.D. required). Kids not yet elementary school age will continue to receive free admission for all UNLV Olympic sports.
