VERMILLION, S.D. (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV volleyball team (20-11) saw its 2019 season come to a close in the second round of the Women's National Invitational Championship with a 3-0 loss (22-25, 19-25, 18-25) to the South Dakota Coyotes (29-2) Friday at the Sanford Coyote Sports Complex.
The Rebels and host Coyotes entered Friday's affair as two of the hottest NCAA Division I teams in the country with the pair only losing once apiece in their last 17 and 26 matches, respectively. UNLV, which began the year 4-9, rattled off a stretch of 16-2 to conclude the year, while South Dakota has rebounded from a loss last week in the Summit League semifinals with two straight wins to continue its quest for an NIVC title.
UNLV attempted more attack attempts in the bout (114-103), but had three fewer kills (43-46) with nine more errors (17-8), which resulted in a 141-point differential (.228 to .369) in hitting efficiency. The Coyotes began the match with a .306 hitting clip and improved in each subsequent set with a .378 in the second and a .433 in the third. The Rebels, on the other hand, also upped their hitting averages as the match progressed, going from .174 in the first to .257 to .273 in the second and third, respectively.
The teams were deadlocked in aces with three apiece, while USD held slight advantages in assists (45-41), digs (48-45) and total team blocks (7.0-4.5).
Mariena Hayden paced the Scarlet & Gray offensively with a match-high 17 kills, while adding eight digs, one ace and one assisted block.
Thea Sweder (seven kills),
Macy Smith (six) and
Alison French (five) combined for 18 kills.
QUOTABLE: "I am incredibly proud of these Rebels," said head coach
Dawn Sullivan. "They are relentless, intentional, positive, and have a deep passion to succeed. They continue to raise the standard of UNLV Volleyball in our gym, in the classroom, and in our community. Thank you to all of our faithful Rebel fans
REBEL NOTES:
- UNLV's 20 victories in 2019 marked the eighth instance that a Rebel squad has hit the 20-win mark in the program's history. Both the 2019 and 2006 squads are tied for the seventh-most wins with 20.
- In program history, UNLV has only posted back-to-back 20-win seasons twice: 2006 (20) and 2007 (24), and 2018 (22) and 2019 (20).
- Friday's match featured 13 ties and only seven lead changes, with the majority of each figure – seven ties and three lead changes – taking place in the first set. There were four ties and two lead changes in the second, and two of each in the third.
- Friday's match was the first meeting between UNLV and South Dakota.
- UNLV finished the year 4-2 in three-set matches, with Friday's loss snapping the Rebels' four-match win streak in sweeps this season.
- By virtue of playing in three sets Friday,
Kate Brennan,
Lauryn Burt and
Antonette Rolda moved into a tie for second place in the program's single-season record book for sets played, with each ending the year with 128.
Shelby Capllonch moved into a tie for sixth with 126.
- With help from her one ace, Hayden increased her 2019 haul to 70, which are the second most in the program's single-season record book. For her career, she has a UNLV- and Mountain West-best 227.
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Lauryn Burt had two aces against USD to push her season total to 44, which are the fifth most in the program's single-season record book.
