BOULDER, Colo. (UNLVRebels.com) – The defending Mountain West regular-season champion UNLV volleyball team defeated Campbell 3-1 (25-12, 30-28, 19-25, 29-27) on Sunday in its final match of the Buffs Invitational at the CU Events Center.
The Rebels (2-1) were led by Isabel Martin, Gabrielle Arretche-Ramos and Chloe Thomas, who were all in double figures in kills. Martin and Arretche-Ramos each had 14, while Thomas had 12.
Arien Fafard recorded 46 assists for UNLV and Caleigh King contributed 19 digs.
Campbell (0-3) was led by Chloe Cook's 11 kills, McKenna Sciacca's 17 assists and Claranne Fechter's 18 digs.
UNLV out-hit Campbell .248 to .169 for the match and tallied 61 kills to the Camels' 44.
This was another close match for the Rebels as two of the sets went to extra points. Throughout the match there were a total of 28 ties and 11 lead changes.
UNLV went 2-1 during its opening weekend of the season after defeating host Colorado Friday night 3-1, which gave Malia Shoji her first career victory in the first game of her head-coaching career, and dropping Saturday's contest to North Texas, 3-0.
ALL-TOURNAMENT: Following the event, Martin was named to the All-Tournament Team.
NEWS & NOTES:
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This marked the first-ever meeting between UNLV and Campbell in volleyball.
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The Rebels, who are under new leadership in first-year head coach Malia Shoji, returned 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.
NEXT FOR THE REBELS: UNLV will head back out on the road this week to play at Utah on Friday, Sept. 1 at 6 p.m. PT and at Weber State on Saturday, Sept. 2 at 1 p.m. PT. Video and live stats links will be available on the volleyball schedule page at UNLVRebels.com.
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.
