LAS VEGAS (UNLVrebels.com) – The UNLV volleyball team capped the 2024 opening weekend on Sunday, hosting the University of Pacific for the final match of The Rebel Challenge. With the perfect opening weekend on the line, the Scarlet & Gray continued its winning ways in 2024 with a clean sweep of the Tigers.
The Rebels (3-0) picked up their first sweep of the season on Sunday, registering a final line of 25-16, 25-18 and 25-18. UNLV tallied their highest attacking average on the young season at a .448 mark while holding Pacific to a .118 average.
The defense held a strong presence at the front, collecting their highest amount of solo blocks in a single game this season with three in total. Graduate student
Jordyn Freeman led the blocking with six blocks during the match, registering one solo and five assists.
Rheanna Deen-Jackson appeared in every set for the second-straight contest, tallying her first-career multi-solo block performance with a pair alongside her three block assists. UNLV totaled 16 block assists and three solo blocks in the match.
Caleigh King picked up her highest dig average with 13 out of the team's 42 in the match,
Dakota Quinlan and
Alondra Alarcon both collecting six.
Alarcon and Quinlan would be just as threatening on the offensive front, the two outside hitters marking the top-two kill counts on the team with 10 and nine, respectively. The first-year Rebel made her mark on only 15 attack attempts, registering a .600 average on the day. Freeman and
Gabrielle Arretche-Ramos posted the highest attacking average of the afternoon (minimum 10 attempts), both finishing the match with seven kills on 11 attempts, no attacking errors.
Arien Fafard helped guide the Rebel attacks with a team-high 20 assists, Olivia Milkkelsen right behind her with 16. UNLV held 42 assists overall in the contest.
"We're really happy with the team's performance and especially our preparation," stated UNLV volleyball head coach
Malia Shoji, "They prepared very maturely to be able to handle two, very tough, five-set matches and then come in really focused on a good Pacific team. The team as a whole has been preparing to have lots of options and lots of depth, and that showed up this weekend. We're really excited for what's next."
The Rebels aimed to continue their all-time win streak against the Tigers, Pacific had a four-game advantage heading into Sunday with the record book. After their latest match in Cox Pavilion, UNLV closed the gap to 5-2 all-time.
Below is a list of the 2024 Rebel Challenge All-Tournament Team, selected by the team's coaches in the invitational. The number of selections was based on the amount of wins each team earned throughout the weekend.
2024 Rebel Challenge All-Tournament Team
Caleigh King, UNLV
Jordyn Freeman, UNLV
Alexa Edwards, Pacific
Morgan Brandt, Iowa State
Rachel Van Gorp, Iowa State
Buse Hazan, Northwestern
2024 Rebel Challenge Tournament MVP
Dakota Quinlan, UNLV
UP NEXT
The Scarlet & Gray will look to continue their winning ways into their first roadtrip of the season next weekend, the team traveling to Houston, Texas to take on South Alabama and Rice, hosted by the latter. UNLV will first take on South Alabama on Friday, Sept. 6, the first serve being listed with an 11 a.m. PT start time.
To stay updated on all things UNLV volleyball, follow on social:
Twitter / X,
Instagram and
Facebook. News and updates on the Rebels will also be posted online at
UNLVrebels.com.
