PHOENIX, Ariz. (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV volleyball team battled back to force a deciding fifth set Saturday afternoon but could not complete the comeback, falling to Grand Canyon 3-2 in a Mountain West road match at Global Credit Union Arena.
HOW IT HAPPENED: The Rebels (6-11, 2-4 MW) dropped the match 25-21, 22-25, 15-25, 25-23, 8-15, earning a split of the teams' home-and-home series after UNLV swept Grand Canyon (8-9, 2-4 MW) in Las Vegas on Thursday. Jaida Harris delivered a standout performance, finishing with 20 kills on 51 attacks while adding 12 digs and six total blocks, good enough for her sixth double-double of the season. Her 24.5 points led the Rebels, who finished with 52 kills and a season-high 33 total blocks. Basia Latos added eight kills and 14 digs, while Logan Lindsay chipped in seven kills.
Jada Ingram was a major presence at the net, recording six kills and a career-high 10 block assists. Harris and Rheanna Deen-Jackson each added six total blocks, helping UNLV finish with a 33-18 advantage in blocks. Caleigh King led the defensive effort with 17 digs, while Kamryn Scroggins distributed 26 assists and added seven digs.
UNLV opened strongly, hitting .379 in the first set to take an early lead in the match. Grand Canyon responded by tightening its defense and finding more consistency offensively, winning the second set before taking control in the third. The Rebels hit just .059 in the third set as the Lopes moved within one set of closing out the match. Facing elimination, UNLV answered in the fourth set with 15 kills to force a deciding frame. The Rebels held off Grand Canyon to win 25-23 and extend the match, but the Lopes pulled away in the fifth, hitting .258 while limiting UNLV to five kills and a .069 hitting percentage to secure the 15-8 set victory.
Grand Canyon's Starr Williams proved difficult to contain, recording a match-high 30 kills on 62 attacks while hitting .387. Milica Zigic added 14 kills, and Taylor Kubacak led the Lopes with 29 assists and 16 digs. Grand Canyon finished with 69 kills and a .211 hitting percentage, compared with UNLV's 52 kills and .162 mark. The Lopes also held advantages in assists, 67-45, and digs, 78-65.
UP NEXT: The Rebels return home to host in-state rival UNR, Oct. 15 (6 pm) and Oct. 17 (1 pm) as part of the Silver State Series.
