ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.(UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV volleyball team saw its eight-match win streak come to a close with a 3-1 loss to the New Mexico Lobos in Mountain West play at the Johnson Center Wednesday. With the score tied at 1-all, the host Lobos (8-7, 2-1 MW) were able to fight for the set win in the third before they cruised in the fourth to a victory by set scores of 25-14, 19-25, 25-23, 25-10 over the Rebels (11-4, 2-1 MW).
The Rebels held a staggering plus-25 attack attempts edge (135-110) over the Lobos, but managed one fewer kill (48-49) and nine more errors (23-14) in the match. Overall, UNM outhit UNLV by 133 points (.318 to .185). The Lobos only committed two to five errors per set, and hit between .143 (second set) to .500 (fourth). The Rebels, on the other hand, hit .185 with a .387 effort in the second and a .400 in the third; however, their offense only managed to hit .053 and -.097 in the first and fourth, respectively.
The Lobos also owned advantages in assists (46-45), aces (4-2), digs (49-40) and total team blocks (9.0-7.0).
TURNING POINT: After winning the second set to tie the match at 1-all, the Rebels stood toe to toe with the Lobos in the third and even owned a two-point lead in the frame as late as the 20-18 juncture. Unfortunately, UNM was able to swing the momentum and set in its direction by winning seven of the next 10 points, which included the 17th tie and fifth lead change, to stake itself to a 2-1 lead. The Cherry & Silver kept things going its way in the fourth with a quick 25-10 win.
STAT OF THE GAME: UNLV managed to hit .394 over the second and third sets with 32 kills against six errors in 66 attack attempts, but only mustered up a paltry -.014 effort in the first and fourth with one more error than kills (17-16) in 69 swings.
STAT OF THE GAME, TWO: UNLV's trio of
Kate Brennan,
Mariena Hayden and
Erin Davis combined for 37 of the team's 48 kills and did so, while hitting at a .351 clip (37-10-77) for the match. The rest of the Rebels amassed 11 kills, but had 13 errors in 58 swings for a -.034 efficiency.
QUOTABLE: "It is always tough to play on the road," said head coach
Dawn Sullivan. "Tonight, we made too many errors to be successful. We need to continue improving as a team eliminating these errors and stay in the present."
REBEL OF THE GAME: Antonette Rolda fell one dig shy of registering a double-double with nine digs paired with 42 – both of which were team highs. Rolda also added two assisted blocks and one kill.
REBEL NOTES:
- UNLV has lost two straight to UNM with both meetings taking place in Albuquerque; however, the Rebels lead the all-time series 24-18.
- UNLV is now 5-3 away from the friendly confines of the Cox Pavilion, with a 3-1 record in true road matches and 2-2 in neutral ones. UNM is now 4-1 in home matches, with three of those wins coming in four sets.
- UNLV has won 11 of its first 15 matches this season, and it's the fifth-best start through this time frame. The 2016 squad owns the best record at 14-1 while the 1998, 2007 and 2014 editions were all 12-3.
- Descamps had five total blocks with two solo and three assisted blocks. With her two solo stuffs, she moved into a tie with former teammate Bree Hammel (2013-16) for eighth place with 50.
NEXT FOR THE REBELS: UNLV will remain on the road for a Friday night showdown with the Air Force Falcons in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The Rebels and Falcons will serve it up at 6:30 pm MT (5:30 pm PT).
REBELS BACK HOME: UNLV will return to play in Las Vegas and the Cox Pavilion next week with matches against the San Jose State Spartans and UNR Wolf Pack on Thursday and Saturday, respectively. First serve for both contests is scheduled for 6:00 pm.
