SEATTLE (UNLVRebels.com) – The defending Mountain West regular-season champion UNLV volleyball team dominated the Florida International Panthers in three sets, 3-0, (25-18, 25-18, 25-14), but fell to the Washington Huskies in five sets (25-22, 25-19, 25-10, 26-24, 15-12) on Friday at the University of Washington Tournament at the Alaska Airlines Arena.

Rebels vs. Panthers

The Rebels were led by Isabel Martin and Chloe Thomas, who were both in double figures in kills. Martin concluded with a match-high 12 kills while Thomas had 11 with a .556 hitting percentage, only committing one hitting error. Arien Fafard and Olivia Mikkelsen led UNLV in assists with 17 and 14 while Caleigh King tacked on eight digs, respectively. 

Florida International (2-6) was led by Syra Tanchin's seven kills, Savannah Cook's 15 assists and Amber Beals's 12 digs. Cook led the Panthers with a hitting percentage of .341, committing one hitting error.

The Rebels recorded 19 more total kills (44-25), out-hit the Panthers for the match, .337 to .122 and had 18 more total assists (39-21). 

Rebels vs. Huskies

Martin and Dakota Quinlan both finished in double figures leading UNLV in kills. Martin had a match-high 20 kills and Quinlan contributed 10. Fafard led the Rebels in assists with 27 and King recorded 12 digs. Quinlan led UNLV with a hitting percentage of .500 while committing one hitting error. 

May Pertofsky led the Huskies (6-1) with 17 kills. Molly Wilson finished in double figures in assists with 39 and Lauren Bays led with a match-high 16 digs. The Huskies were led in hitting percentage by Elise Hani at .667.

After dropping the first set of the match, UNLV stormed back to take set two. Washington earned a win in the third, but the Rebels won the fourth set by erasing four straight match points with a 6-0 run. The Huskies finished off the fifth set with a three-point margin.

The Rebels were outhit .288 to .197, but had three more kills (52-49) and five more assists (47-42). There were 10 ties and six lead changes throughout the match.

News & Notes:

• The Rebels, who are led by first-year head coach Malia Shoji, returned 11 letterwinners from last season's team.

• 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.

• 2022 Mountain West Player of the Year Isabel Martin was also named the 2023 Preseason MW Player of the Year.

• Also returning are last season's all-conference honorees: senior outside hitter Gabrielle Arretche-Ramos and senior middle blocker Jordyn Freeman. 

• 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 host its home opener on Tuesday, Sept. 12 at 6:30 p.m. against the Southern Utah Thunderbirds at the Cox Pavilion before hosting Coppin State, Portland and Lamar at the UNLV Tournament Thursday-Saturday, Sept. 14-16. Stream and live stat links will be available via a link at UNLVRebels.com.

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.

-UNLV-