HOUSTON (UNLVrebels.com) – The UNLV volleyball team opened the second Rice Invitational on Friday afternoon with an early match against South Alabama, looking to continue the team's hot start to the 2024 season.
The Scarlet & Gray (4-0) produced their season-high hitting percentage against South Alabama (1-2), posting a .442 rate after earning 42 kills on 77 attempts. The team also thwarted South Alabama's offense in the process, holding them down to a .140 attacking rate, the second time this season they've held opponents under .200. Friday's win marked UNLV's second sweep in a row, taking down Pacific last weekend to cap the Rebel Challenge.
The Rebels had three members of their roster total nine kills in the match, two other student-athletes on the roster producing at least five kills or more in the three-set series.
Jordyn Freeman was the team's most efficient weapon with a .667 rate on her nine kills,
Chloe Thomas picking hers up without committing a single attacking error. Quinlan picked up four digs alongside her nine kills from the back row, totaling 9.5 points in the match.
UNLV total 35 digs across the three sets,
Olivia Mikkelsen hoisting nine for the Rebel lead in the match.
Arien Fafard and
Caleigh King each tallied eight digs of their own, Quinlan and
Alondra Alarcon picking up four a piece on the outside. The team's frontline was led by Freeman and Thomas with five total blocks each, Thomas and
Basia Latos both being credited with solo blocks in the match. Latos' block would be one of two for her on the night, the solo happening during the third and final set to give the Rebels a 23-15 lead.
The Scarlet & Gray shared setting duties between Mikkelsen and Fafard, the team picking up 41 assists in total and their highest assists per set rate of the season (13.6). Mikkelsen led the way with 16 with Fafard right behind her at 11, King almost reaching double-digits with nine of her own in the match.
The Rebels' Friday victory marked the first time in program history that they faced off with the Jaguars. The match also served as the program's first battle away from Cox Pavilion in the young 2024 season.
UP NEXT
UNLV will face off in one more match before returning back to Las Vegas, taking on the host of the invitational in Rice. That match is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. PT on Saturday, Sept. 7.
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