COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV volleyball team suffered its second straight, four-set loss on the road with its 3-1 decision at Air Force Friday at the Cadet East Gym. The Rebels opened the Mountain West contest with a win in the first, but was unable to fend off the Falcons from the second on, as the hosts claimed the affair by set scores of 19-25, 25-22, 25-19, 25-16.
 
The Rebels (11-5, 2-2 MW) attempted seven more attack attempts (135-128) than the Falcons (12-4, 2-0 MW) in the match, but had 10 fewer kills (43-53) and two more errors (21-19). UNLV opened the match hitting .441 with 18 kills against three errors in 34 swings; however, the team's hitting efficiency went down in each subsequent set with a .258 effort in the second followed by a .000 in the third and a -.038 in the fourth. Air Force, on the other hand, hit .367 in both the second and fourth, while posting .167 and .184 efforts in the first and third, respectively.
 
The Falcons also owned advantages in assists (48-40), aces (6-3), digs (60-49) and total team blocks (11.0-5.0).
 
TURNING POINT: After winning the first set, UNLV was able to build a three-point lead early in the second (6-3) only to see Air Force turn the frame around by claiming seven of the next 10 points to stake itself to an edge that it would not relinquish en route to tying the match at 1-all. The Falcons opened the third by winning five of the first six points and owned as much as a nine-point cushion (20-11) before they eventually won the set. The fifth began tight, but the hosts took control with a four-point run to turn a one-point deficit (8-7) into a three-point lead (11-8), which grew to nine at match point (25-16).
 
STAT OF THE GAME: UNLV opened the match on fire with a .441 hitting efficiency with 18 kills against three errors, but combined to hit .069 the remainder of the match over the second through fourth sets. In those final three stanzas, the Rebels only had seven more kills than they did in the first alone (25-18).
 
REBEL OF THE GAME: Elsa Descamps led the Rebels in digs with 12 to go along with eight kills off of .304 hitting, two assisted blocks and one assist. Descamps only had one attack error, which came in the third.

QUOTABLE: "I thought we came out strong in the beginning, but struggled to maintain that level as the match went," said head coach Dawn Sullivan. "We will get back in the gym this week and work hard at improving areas of or game & taking care of opportunities." 
 
REBEL NOTES:
- UNLV went 0-2 on this week's road trip against New Mexico and Air Force, and it marked the first time it had lost two straight all season.
- UNLV is now 5-4 away from the friendly confines of the Cox Pavilion, with a 3-2 record in true road matches and 2-2 mark in neutral ones. Air Force defended its home court and improved to 8-2 on the year in matches played at the Cadet East Gym.
- Mariena Hayden led the Rebels with 18 kills – the second straight match she has posted 18 and 10th with 15 or more. Hayden has reached double figures in kills all 16 contests.
- Descamps 12 digs against Air Force marked the sixth instance she has had 10 or more in a match this season, with three of those coming in the team's last four outings.
- Descamps had two assisted blocks against Air Force, and those helped her move within four of tying Christel Eves (1996-99) with 331 for fifth place. Currently, Descamps is sixth with 327 assisted blocks as well as fifth in total blocks (377) and tied for eighth in solo blocks (50).
 
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. Thursday's affair is Lace Up For Cancer and First Responders Night; UNLV Volleyball is teaming up with Go4theGoal Foundation in the fight against pediatric cancer. Saturday's match is a Camper Reunion Night and the program's Code Red game and fans are encouraged to wear red. Prior to the match a tailgate with free food and drinks will be held prior to the match. Additionally, the first 250 fans through the Cox Pavilion doors will receive free T-shirts.

PURCHASE TICKETS: 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, although 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 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.