LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – UNLV senior outside hitter Isabel Martin had a match-high 17 kills with only two errors to hit .500 Thursday evening leading the UNLV volleyball team (6-4) to its second straight sweep in a 3-0 win over Coppin State at the UNLV Tournament at Cox Pavilion.
The Rebels won by scores of 25-17, 25-15 and 25-21, out-hitting the Eagles (8-2) for the match .330 to .097.
Trailing 16-13 in the third set, UNLV went on a 5-0 run and outscored Coppin State 12-5 to close out the match.
Junior rightside hitter Chloe Thomas added nine kills, while senior setter Arien Fafard had a match-high-tying 22 assists and freshman libero Caleigh King had a match-high 15 digs.
Coppin State was led by TaKenya Stafford's seven kills, Andrea Tsvetanova's 22 assists and Coco Figueroa's 10 digs.
As a team, UNLV led in kills (47-23), assists (43-23) and digs (42-36). There were only five ties and three lead changes throughout the entire match.
This was the first-ever meeting between the two schools in volleyball.
News & Notes:
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The Rebels, who are led by first-year head coach Malia Shoji, returned 11 letterwinners from last season's Mountain West regular-season championship 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 is back and 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 continue play in its own tournament, Friday and Saturday, Sept. 15 and 16. The Rebels will face Portland on Friday at 6:30 p.m. and Lamar on Saturday at 1 p.m. Neutral matches between the other teams take place each day prior to UNLV's matches. All matches are being held at Cox Pavilion The full schedule may be found here.
PURCHASE TICKETS: 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. Single-game tickets are also available. Kids 12 and under receive free admission.
