Volleyball To Cap Nonconference Schedule In California

Thursday, September 19

Los Angeles, CA

4:00 PM

University of Nevada Las Vegas

UC San Diego

Photo by: Lucas Peltier

9/18/2024 4:22:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

LAS VEGAS (UNLVrebels.com) – The UNLV volleyball team (6-2) will travel west to California this upcoming weekend for their final round of nonconference play, competing in the Trojans/Lions Invitational.

The Rebels will face off against three teams in three days, first competing against UC San Diego on Thursday, Sept. 19 at 4 p.m. PT. Another match will kick off the next day against potentially their toughest opponent yet in No. 21-ranked USC on Friday, Sept. 20. The team will round out the weekend and nonconference schedule on Saturday, Sept. 21, battling Loyola Marymount University.

The Scarlet & Gray head into the weekend coming off their most electrifying match of the season earlier in the week, taking down Hawai'I on a final score of 3-2. Second-year head coach Malia Shoji and company picked up the Rebels' first win over the Rainbow Wāhine in program history in front of a record-setting crowd, selling out Cox Pavilion for the first time on an official attendance of 3,117.

UNLV has tallied several quality wins for their season's resume, also picking up wins against Power Four programs in Northwestern (3-2) and Iowa State (3-2). Jordyn Freeman has made the most of her final campaign as a Rebel, the graduate student ranked eighth among all NCAA DI student-athletes in hitting percentage at a .488 mark. Her defense has helped UNLV's defensive efforts, the team ranking 40th in blocks per set (2.58) while Freeman individually sits 38th in the country in the statistical category (1.35). The Scarlet & Gray, as a team, have yet to allow an opposing offense to hit over .275 in a single match so far this season, holding their foes to a season hitting percentage of .197.

The Rebels' offense has produced a hitting efficiency of .262 on the season, Dakota Quinlan owning the top spot in points through the team's 31 sets on a 3.26 points-per-set rate. Averaging a team-high 2.77 kills per set, the team balances Quinlan's workload across several offensive weapons including Freeman (2.32 k/s), Gabrielle Arretche-Ramos (2.39) and Chloe Thomas (2.06).

Caleigh King heads the Rebel backline with a team-leading 3.16 digs per set rate, picking up double-digit digs in six of the program's eight matches this season. Newcomer Alondra Alarcon has made a recent presence as well as a startup to the UNLV offense, the last two matches earning seven digs against Hawai'i and 12 versus North Texas. Rheanna Deen-Jackson has been a stronghold to the program's deep frontline, picking up 29 total blocks so far this season that's only second to Freeman (42).

ABOUT THE OPPONENTS:

UC San Diego (6-2)
The Tritons have kicked off the 2024 season just as strong as the Rebels, coming off a 3-0 sweep of Western Michigan last week during the Erie Insurance Invite. Molly McCluskey has been an excellent addition to the program's rotation in Melanie Greene's first season as the team's head coach, McCluskey picking up back-to-back Big West Freshman of the Week honors with her 3.22 kills per set and 3.78 points per set rates. The Rebels will look to out-block the Tritons strong frontline in Emily McDaniel and Jasmine Saran, both claiming 34 and 31 total blocks so far this weekend, respectively.

#21 USC (5-2)
The Trojans have teetered in the early 20's ranks throughout the nonconference season, hosting an extremely veteran offense that will aim to use the experience to their advantage in the long weekend of matches. Senior setter Mia Tuaniga has been the program's started for the last three seasons, being selected on the BigTen Preseason All-Conference Team. Tyrah Ariail commands the front row's defensive pressure with a fourth-place ranking in the conference in blocks per set (1.46), the back line being led by Gala Trubint. Trubint is no stranger to opponent's attacks, having logged 15 career matches with 20 or more digs.

LMU (6-2)
The Lions have tallied wins against familiar foes for the Rebels, sweeping Utah State just last weekend during the USC/LMU Classic. Sophia Meyers owns a team-high 4.14 points per set rating that comes from her 3.34 kills per rate average. She's not the only strong offensive weapon the Rebels will have to overcome, Paige Flickinger posting a 3.16 kills per set rating while also collecting a 2.09 digs per set rate. Sam Hastings has put on standout performances for the defense, picking up WCC Defensive Player of the Week honors as she totaled 53 digs, 83 service receptions and a .904 reception percentage against Milwaukee, Weber State and SMU.

WHERE TO WATCH:
UNLV's matches this upcoming weekend have several different spots that vary by the game, fans can check out all of the links to ensure they don't miss any Rebel action on the official UNLV schedule, which can be found on the UNLV schedule here. Fans can also follow along on the team's social media accounts: Twitter / X, Instagram and Facebook. News and updates on the Rebels will also be posted online at UNLVrebels.com.