NAPA, California (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV women's golf team kicked off the week with the first round of the Silverado Showdown Monday at the Silverado Resort in Napa, shooting an 9-over 296 as a team to sit in eighth place. The Rebels are just eight shots back from day-one leader UCLA, who shot an even opening round.

Sophomore Elina Saksa carded the top round of the day for Rebels, an even 72, to sit tied for ninth heading into Tuesday's second round. Checking in behind Saksa is senior Samantha Fuller and junior Veronica JOels, who are both tied for 21st after rounds of 2-over 74. Joels finished out the round with three straight birdies to jump up the leaderboard. Freshman Madeleine Laux shot a 4-over 74 to sit tied for 40th, while fellow freshman Gracie Olkowski is tied for 74th at 14-over 86.

Behind the Bruins in second is Washington at 2-over (290), followed by No. 13 USC and Oregon State in a tie for third at 3-over (291). Arizona State wraps up the all-Pac-12 top five at 4-over (292).

Individually, Oregon State's Ellie Slama and Washington's Stefanie Deng are tied for first at 5-under after each carded rounds of 67. Three players are tied for third - USC's Allisen Corpuz, Arizona State's Alessandra Fanali and UCLA's Yuki Yoshihara - are three-back in second place at 2-under (70) to round out the top five.

UP NEXT: Tee times for Tuesday's second round at the Silverado Resort will begin at 8 a.m. PT.

NOTES:
• This is the third straight season the Rebels will compete in the event (the 2020 tournament was canceled) and the fourth time overall. The tournament is co-hosted by the Pac-12's Oregon and Colorado
• The Rebels have finished in the top five in two of five and in the top 10 in four of five tournaments this spring
• UNLV has five returners from last year along with two freshmen newcomers - Madeleine Laux and Gracie Olkowski
• Head coach Amy Bush-Herzer is in her 10th year at the helm of the program. She has led her team to a conference championship four times.