BOULDER, Colo. (UNLVRebels.com) – The defending Mountain West regular-season champion UNLV volleyball team opened the Malia Shoji era Friday night with a 3-1 comeback victory (20-25, 25-23, 25-14, 25-18) over Colorado in the Buffs Invitational at the CU Events Center.
The win marked the first of Coach Shoji's career as she is in her first year as a head coach.
Last season's MW Player of the Year Isabel Martin picked up where she left off as she recorded a match-high 28 kills for the Rebels (1-0), while hitting an impressive .658. She committed just three errors in 38 attempts.
Gabrielle Arretche-Ramos was also in double digits with 10 kills, while Dakota Quinlan added nine and Chloe Thomas had seven. Quinlan committed just one hitting error, turning in a percentage of .615.
Caleigh King led the way in digs with a match-high 12, while Arien Fafard recorded a double-double with a match-high 48 assists, also contributing 10 digs.
Colorado (0-1) was led by Lexi Hadrych's 14 kills and 11 digs, while Taylor Simpson contributed a team-high 28 assists.
For the match, UNLV out-hit Colorado .296 to .163 and recorded 60 kills to the Buffaloes' 37. The Rebels also led in service aces 9-3. There were a total of 17 ties and nine lead changes throughout the match.
UNLV will continue play at the Buffs Invitational on Saturday, Aug. 26 at 2 p.m. PT against North Texas, then conclude the event on Sunday, Aug. 27 at 9 a.m. PT against Campbell. Live video will be available by clicking here and live stats may be found by clicking here.
News & Notes:
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This marked only the second time that UNLV and Colorado have faced off on the volleyball court. The first meeting was in 2011, which the Buffaloes won.
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The Rebels, who are under new leadership in first-year head coach Malia Shoji, return 11 letterwinners from last season's team.
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UNLV, which has been named the preseason league favorite along with Utah State in a poll voted on by the conference's head coaches, has added five new players to their 2023 roster.
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2022 Mountain West Player of the Year Isabel Martin was also named the 2023 Preseason MW Player of the Year.
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Also returning are last season's all-conference honorees: senior outside hitter Gabrielle Arretche-Ramos and senior middle blocker Jordyn Freeman.
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Martin also earned all-region honors last season and was named an honorable mention All-American.
- UNLV went 26-5 overall in 2022, including a 17-1 record in Mountain West play, and made another NCAA Tournament appearance.
HOME OPENER: UNLV will host its first home match on Tuesday, Sept. 12 against Southern Utah before welcoming Coppin State, Portland and Lamar to the Cox Pavilion at the UNLV Tournament Thursday-Saturday, Sept. 14-16. The full season schedule may be found here.
UNLV SEASON TICKETS: Season tickets for UNLV volleyball are on sale now and may be purchased at UNLVtickets.com or by calling 702-739-FANS (3267). Season tickets are $50 for adults (13 and older), and $40 for active alumni, seniors, and faculty and staff.
